SEGA confirms Alpha Protocol delay

By Robert Purchese Published 15 October, 2009

Espionage RPG pushed to spring 2010.

SEGA and Obsidian have pushed the release of Alpha Protocol back to spring 2010, surprising nobody.

Not only does this move the spy RPG out of an intimidating Christmas period, it also offers developer Obsidian more time to polish or perhaps finish the game.

"We're very happy that SEGA has made the decision to hold back the shipment of the game in order to give it the best chance at becoming the publishing success that we at Obsidian and our partners at SEGA are striving for," Obsidian boss Feargus Urquhart said in a statement.

Alpha Protocol is in development for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. There's plenty more information on the gamepages below.

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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 (22) Latest comment 2 years ago

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  • Yossarian #1 2 years ago

    About time it was made official; the game was meant to be out already!

  • The-Bodybuilder #2 2 years ago

    Money that could've been spent on a shenmue remake, imo.

  • BabyJesus #3 2 years ago

    A little birdie told me the game was done but SEGA are sitting on it not quite sure what to do with it.

  • Raziel #4 2 years ago

    Don't think this is a bad thing, I would have skipped it for bigger games and it looked like it could use that wee bit more polish.
    I'm pretty sure I'll be picking it up now.

  • photoboy #5 2 years ago

    It's disappointing as I was quite looking forward to this game, but I'd rather buy a polished game in spring than a rushed game now (no-one wants another KOTOR2!)

  • Quint2020 #6 2 years ago

    Shame, was looking forward to this.

  • Wash #7 2 years ago

    Hopefully with the extra time it'll be nice and polished, KOTOR2 was rushed and was worse off for it.

    I have complete faith in Obisidan tho, and am really lookin forward to the game.

  • darkmorgado #8 2 years ago

    Well judging on those leaked meeting notes last month Sega don't seem too confident with it as they said it doesn't feel like a proper RPG (even going so far as to say Mass Effect felt more like a proper RPG in comparison). I think the notes said something about trying to emphasise the RPG elements, so it could well be that it has been pushed back for some design changes or something.

  • SomaticSense #9 2 years ago

    @ darkmorgado

    Yeah, I heard that too. Which is pretty worrying, as usually when games are severly delayed for game design problems, they tend to end up *ahem* 'troubled'.

  • Markusdragon #10 2 years ago

    2010 is going to be a good year for games.

  • TheSnotGoblin #11 2 years ago

    Considering Obsidian's history of unfinished games (Two for two, expansions not included) this is probably for the best. Still not massively keen on it mind you, but I'll keep an eye it.

  • mkreku #12 2 years ago

    One of my most anticipated games of the year. Well, next year now. Good to finally get an official statement though.

  • coomber #13 2 years ago

    Good call. I have high hopes for this one still. Nobody wants another KOTOR2 rush-job.

  • makeamazing #14 2 years ago

    This game certainly would have suffered in the run up to xmas...

  • Grayvern #15 2 years ago

    The game companies really dont want me to do my dissertation do they.

  • cobaltfram #16 2 years ago

    Wow; 2010's gonna be so crowded I wonder how anything will survive. And it pisses me off that nobody's willing to take of Activision and Modern Warfare 2 is going to be the undisputed king of Christmas and everyone will talk about how amazing it's sales are when there's nothing else to buy. And I have no faith in Obsidian. And I am a lesser form of human being.

  • dudefella #17 2 years ago

    "it also offers developer Obsidian more time to polish or perhaps finish the game."

    Having a go at Obsidian over KOTOR 2 are you? Oh you cheeky lot.

  • fjharps #18 2 years ago

    Massive over crowd of games in spring 2010 if developers are delayin their games to make them sell better I think its going to backfire.

  • dingo75 #19 2 years ago

    2010 is going to be a good year for games

    It can't be shittier than 2009 can it?!? :p

  • the_mtfr #20 2 years ago

    This just pushed me to pre-order. I can't wait for this game.

    But I'm having doubts about Sega's intentions, ever since they disbanded the rally studio that made Sega Rally Revo in 2007... that I thought had amazing quality (fun+technically).

  • YourMessageHere #21 2 years ago

    So long as it's good, I don't care how long it takes. More RPGs with neither magic nor spacecraft, this is what I require.

  • seanm2 #22 2 years ago

    I think it is a good decision.

    The previous delay pushed it too close to the November blockbuster releases. There is no sense in competing against L4D, MW2, Operation Flashpoint and Borderlands. When they can pick a date some time next year.

    There also did not seem to be much mainstream awareness of the game. This gives them extra time to polish and market it.