US SSBB release now 'TBD'

News that Sonic and Mario could finally face off in hand-to-hand combat wasn't the only Super Smash Bros. Brawl-related news to arrive today. Although the Wii brawler had been scheduled to ship on December 3 ever since the E3 Media & Business Summit in July, the game's official Web site now has its release date as "TBD." Web caches of the page show that the change occurred within the last 24 hours.

Though not yet 100 percent officially delayed in North America--Nintendo had not responded to GameSpot's request for official confirmation as of press time--the date change could be a signal that Super Smash Bros. Brawl is slipping from its initially announced 2007 release window. In doing so, it would join a throng of high-profile games pushed into the now sardine-can-tight early 2008 shipping schedule. However, at a Tokyo press conference this morning, Nintendo announced that the Wii game won't arrive in Japan until January 24, 2008.

Such a postponement would send the game's rabid fan base into varying degrees of despair and apoplexy. For over a year, Nintendo has steadily whipped up enthusiasm for the game by revealing additions to its iconic cast. These include new characters such as Zero Suit Samus, Solid Snake, and now Sonic the Hedgehog.

For more on Super Smash Bros. Brawl, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.