Haze slips to 2008

By Robert Purchese Published 21 November, 2007

Conviction tumbles further.

Ubisoft has revealed that drug-inspired shooter Haze will now no longer be out before Christmas.

Boss Yves Guillemot spilled the words in a six month financial review, highlighting that the Free Radical Design game will now be out sometime between January and March 2008 exclusively for PS3 until they make the other ones.

He also told money people that the new Jason Bourne-inspired instalment in the Splinter Cell series would not be out before April 2008. Conviction was originally due to be out this month, but slipped recently and quietly on the delay-banana to early next year.

On the whole, for those of you wondering about money things, Ubisoft made lots - partly due to Assassin's Creed being wildly successful despite largely failing to live up to expectations.

Other Ubisoft games to watch out for soon are mini-game ridden Raving Rabbids 2, film tie-in Beowulf and Naruto RPG Rise of a Ninja.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (44) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • bioreit #1 4 years ago

    Dagnammit!

    Was hoping this would be out before Christmas so I could see what it looked like on my housemate's boyfriend's PS3. He's a poor student so can really only afford games with Christmas money or as presents! Damn!

  • SeesThroughAll #2 4 years ago

    This only makes things easier for me!

    Eye of Judgment and Uncharted it is for me then.

    And nekotcha: I don't want to play online co-op with you any more :p
    Edited by 2 at 21/11/07 @ 10:01

  • Beano #3 4 years ago

    Uncharted is a must-buy... completed it yesterday :)

  • richardiox #4 4 years ago

    Heh, unbelievable! Another major slippage for Sony. Already people trying to put a positive spin on this which is hilarious. Now I guess we await slippage til 2008 for Unreal 3 to make the disaster complete.

    edit- and still no sign of the promised Little Big Planet or Home beta tests.
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/07 @ 10:09

  • Darren #5 4 years ago

    I was looking forward to playing Haze in 2007. Damn. Looks like PS3 owners only have the triple A quality Uncharted: Drake's Fortune to look forward to now as it's doubtful that Unreal Tournament III will be released before Christmas either. Other than the wonderful looking Uncharted and the superb Ratchet & Clank, it looks like the PS3 has a fairly lacklustre lineup of games in the run up to Christmas really beyond the usual multiformat stuff. I can't help thinking that Sony released the PS3 a year too early judging by the number of its game that have been slipping into 2008 of late...

  • GamesConnoisseur #6 4 years ago

    Sorry Rob, you mean Haze NOW not exclusive to PS3 despite earlier statement? Wasn't clear with;

    '..is it is it not exclusively for PS3.'

    That would be a big reversion of Ubisoft position and a blow to PS3 owners at having their exclusivity 'repealed' after orginially being a multi-plaform which then announced as going to be only available on PS3?!
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/07 @ 10:07

  • BadBoyBonner #7 4 years ago

    Surprised there is anything left of the PS3 delivery date Banana – it has been severely overworked, poor thing. Might feel compelled to report Ubisoft to the NSPCBS.

  • Beano #8 4 years ago

    "Already people trying to put a positive spin on this which is hilarious."

    Who are putting a positive spin on this?

  • SeesThroughAll #9 4 years ago

    then annouced as going to be only available on PS3?!

    The announcement was "this Christmas exclusively on PS3"

    It always was a timed exclusivity. Delay the game, the exclusivity is lost.


    I love it how some of the Bill Gates faithful are trying to spin it into "ZOMG! Haze delayed, Phony r teh doomed!"

    If the game hadn't been delayed, these are the same people who would show up at the review saying how shit it is...

  • BadBoyBonner #10 4 years ago

    "If the game hadn't been delayed, these are the same people who would show up at the review saying how shit it is... "

    .....on the PS3 as lead platform (you forgot to add the most importnant bit that would be attached. ;-)

  • Beano #11 4 years ago

    "It always was a timed exclusivity. Delay the game, the exclusivity is lost."

    Why?

    IF it's a timed exclusive (unclear), the 360 version is just further away.

  • SeesThroughAll #12 4 years ago

    Yeah, but you know what I mean. :p

    Would have been nice to play it this year, but if it's delayed, sod it. There's always COD 4 and good non-FPS games to choose from.

    @ Beano: Because timed exclusivities are scheduled ;)
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/07 @ 10:16

  • kissthestick #13 4 years ago

    Splinter Cell pushed to April isnt really bad news, tbh a Sep-Dec 08 date would be better

  • WickedDeeJ #14 4 years ago

    Well tbh, I'm glad they delayed Haze. I had the chance to try it at the D3 convention in Copenhagen this past weekend, and it really wasn't ready. The gameplay was hugely disjointed and the textures blurry, even in HD.

    Three to four months more polish, at least is definitely what the doctor ordered for this game.

  • JohnnyWashnGo #15 4 years ago

    Meh, could come out in 2018 for all I care. Looks a bit dull and samey to me.

    Poor old Sony is really struggling to actually get some games out for their shiny blu-ray player... still, plenty of films to watch huh?

  • Beano #16 4 years ago

    "Because timed exclusivities are scheduled ;) "

    Nonsense. We don't know this.

    Example, If Sony have a 6 month exclusive deal for Haze... the 6 months will just start when Haze is released on PS3.

  • BadBoyBonner #17 4 years ago



    Clearly they have delayed releasing it on PS3 because the 360 is so difficult to code for and that obviously.... wait a minute.

    Only joking

    Hard to imagine that this late in the day anything is being done to the engine - highly likely that the game, after play testing, simply is not ready to ship or possibly surprised at the popularity of CoD 4 on PS3. They do seem to be making a concerted effort to avoid other multiplayer launches.

    Not sure I follow the logic of it being delayed negates it being available as a timed exclusive. Surely they would just wait till after the other versions have launched?

    Then again maybe it is the engine after they have seen CoD 4 and thought – 60fps FPS on PS3 – oh dear, how are we going to get round that, ours looks worse while not running as smoothly.

  • skillian #18 4 years ago

    That would be a big reversion of Ubisoft position and a blow to PS3 owners at having their exclusivity 'repealed' after orginially being a multi-plaform which then announced as going to be only available on PS3?!

    Why would this be a blow to PS3 owners? They still get to play it whether it's on 1 sytem or 9. The only people it would be a blow to are stats-watchers and fanboys.

  • Beano #19 4 years ago

    @andyjack: Tell your friend to get Uncharted and stop "whining" ;)

  • SeesThroughAll #20 4 years ago

    And CoD 4. Which probably is the reason Haze got delayed.

  • DonnieDarko333 #21 4 years ago

    Uncharted and Singstar for me!

    It's ok i suppose, got tons of Wii games i still want anyway!

  • wallybee #22 4 years ago

    What a gyp.

  • Machetazo #23 4 years ago

    Oh yeah...Uncharted. And others.

  • BadBoyBonner #24 4 years ago

    Forgot to add

    CoD 4 – 60fps FPS on PS3 - WITH ANTIALIASING.

  • Triggerhappytel #25 4 years ago

    Ubisoft games to watch out for soon are mini-game ridden Raving Rabbids 2

    I saw RRR2 Wii on sale in Morrisons last week.

  • Beano #26 4 years ago

    @BadBoyBonner : No, COD4 on PS3 is just as jaggy as the Xbox 360 version :(

    Runs smooth though...
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/07 @ 10:59

  • GamesConnoisseur #27 4 years ago

    SeeThroughAll

    "The announcement was "this Christmas exclusively on PS3"

    It always was a timed exclusivity. Delay the game, the exclusivity is lost.

    I love it how some of the Bill Gates faithful are trying to spin it into "ZOMG! Haze delayed, Phony r teh doomed!"

    If the game hadn't been delayed, these are the same people who would show up at the review saying how shit it is...

    then annouced as going to be only available on PS3?! "


    SeeThroughAll: I am disappointed to see that you are not as informed as I thought you usually are, on this particular matter please check out the below link:

    [link url=http://uk.gamesp ot.com/news/6177964.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&ta g=latestnews;title;1
    ]http://uk .gamespot.com/news/6177964.html...[/link]

    Like you I had thought it was timed exclusive only but the statement solidify the assumption PS3 only, and X360 and PC being removed from offical website. Hence my comment above.

    Likewise you tarred me as being Xbox fanboy which is not a sensible debate, and yes multi platform owners do have biased preference to which console they own. They would be lying through their teeth if denying so, I do not hide that X360 is getting the most playtime up to date.

    But I have always looked forward to Haze and anticipate future PS3 titles inc Uncharted, plus due to get new DualShock 3 on import (yesasia.com recently confirmed delivery). I would not make expensive purchase on import if I believed PS3 to have no future!
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/07 @ 11:03

  • Beano #28 4 years ago

    @andyjack: I finished Uncharted yesterday and it really doesn't "tread on Lara's shoes"... it reminds far more of Gears Of War but in a colourful jungle/ruin setting and with a kind of Indiana Jones humor ;)

    The exploring elements are quite downscaled and linear compared to the exellent Tomb Raider Anniversary (and TR1-3 games)... more on the level of Tomb Raider Legend if we really HAVE to compare it to any TR game :)

  • SeesThroughAll #29 4 years ago

    @GamesConnoisseur:

    I assure you, I wasn't referring to you when I mentioned "Teh XBots".

    Also, the Ubisoft website release date fiasco was not only a mistake, but one that indeed hints at a timed exclusivity.
    Furthermore, in the link you gave me, the "confirmation" that it would be a PS3 exclusive was: "The official statement on PC and Xbox 360 is that these platforms are not confirmed."

    Which is neither confirmation nor denial.

    I still believe the exclusivity of Haze will be timed, if any. I'm also under the impression that it would only remain a PS3 exclusive as long as it came out in 2007.

    These news have little bearing on PS3 users, since as I'm sure you'll agree, there are more good games (including multi-platform ones) to choose from this season.

  • kangarootoo #30 4 years ago

    @skillian

    "Why would this be a blow to PS3 owners? They still get to play it whether it's on 1 sytem or 9. The only people it would be a blow to are stats-watchers and fanboys."

    +1

  • Calgon #31 4 years ago

    Yeah I think Seesthroughall has a point there about the timed exclusivity, that was about Christmas sales, early 2008 wont have the same effect even if it is timed exclusive.

  • Beano #32 4 years ago

    But if PS3-only gamers are as game-starved as many claims, a early 2008 release won't affect sales much ;)

  • Xerx3s #33 4 years ago

    .....on the PS3 as lead platform (you forgot to add the most importnant bit that would be attached. ;-)

    You keep hammering on this but funnily enough it has been developed for all platforms simultaneously according to ubi. Or are you under the impression that a couple of months of exclusivity will suddenly make dev's throw years of work out of the window and start from scratch just to port it?

    Too bad for neco & the team though, delay with a project is never a nice feeling when you work hard for it. :/

  • GamesConnoisseur #34 4 years ago

    SeeThroughAll: Thanks for clarifications

    Though my understanding was Haze will be released on PS3 first in end of 2007 and then some months later in 2008 will be on other formats BEFORE the Ubisoft 31st August 2007 statement which solidify PS3 as the main platform and dropping any mentions of other formats (Offical X360 mag had Haze in preview section embarrasingly around the time!).

    Correct that Ubisoft actually never actually ruled out the other formats, but prior to that was advertised as coming to PC and X360 but expected by the trade media as going to be some times after PS3.

    Why bother making the annoucement on 31st August which raised the anticipation of PS3 owners that they would be favoured but only to be told a bit differently today only less than 3 months later?!

    Yeah who cares, as plently to look forward to for PS3 owners and I still plan to get PS3 version of Haze as am sure it will certainly be the best version with Free Radical at the helm and also with my forthcoming DualShock 3.

    Petty point; EG may need to revise their 12 Christmas must haves or at least readers can come up with their own version!

  • Kenshin001 #35 4 years ago

    "He said he wouldn't buy COD4 on PS3 as it wasn't any better than the 360 version, after SONY insisted PS3 titles powered by the Cell CPU would perform better he feels let down."

    Either you are talking cock or your friend has the maturity of a pre-schooler.

  • GamesConnoisseur #36 4 years ago

    School kids are allowed to participate in this hallowed site, so there may be cases of jusitfied immaturity as the contributors are not all 30 somethings, balding fat layabouts who should make more productive use of our time!

    Of course may be more like we just never grown up.

  • Beano #37 4 years ago

    "Either you are talking cock or your friend has the maturity of a pre-schooler. "

    A bit harsh but you have a point... a game for a particular console is never better than the programmers who make them. The PS3 doesn't automaticly make a game better/prettier if the developers doesn't optimize for it. Naive to claim otherwise.

    I can only recommend games like Rathet & Clank and Uncharted if you want something VERY pretty, fun to play and something that's not on other consoles ;)

  • Garulon #38 4 years ago

    "as am sure it will certainly be the best version with Free Radical at the helm and also with my forthcoming DualShock 3."

    Oh yes another $60 for rumble. Thanks again Sony!

  • smoothn00dle #39 4 years ago

    I am disappointed. that's all the big games for this christmas. If Haze delay, this means PS3 UT3 will likely delay to next year. I expect the announcement in the next few days. The only big game left for PS3 is SingStar. Nevertheless, Year 2007 is the best game year ever.

  • finty13 #40 4 years ago

    Am I the only one on this thread who is pissed off with the further delay of SC:Conviction.

  • captainrentboy #41 4 years ago

    Finty, I was really looking forward to Conviction too, but to be honest I had absolutely no idea that it WAS due before Chrimbo :/ I've only ever seen the one gameplay vid that's dotted around on the internet, and that was months ago, and as it hasn't been remotely hyped up recently I was always expecting it to turn up in 2008 sometime, the fact that it's as early as April is actually good news for me!
    And even if it was coming out this month, I wouldn't have had the cash for it anyway, I've already bought faaar too many 360 titles.

  • J.C #42 4 years ago

    @andyjack: Tell your friend to get Uncharted and stop "whining" ;)

    Its not that good! the running animation in particular is laughable. i know its a good game, but noooooo way is it a system seller.

  • BBIAJ #43 4 years ago

    Beowulf and Naruto are also readily available...

    *confused face*

  • erekose200 #44 4 years ago

    Oh good, another FPS. We REALLY need another one of those