Sony coy on Euro Killzone 2 date

By Robert Purchese Published 5 December, 2008

Targeting "similar timeframe" to US.

Sony is reluctant to stamp a European date on Killzone 2 after a US bigwig confirmed the shooter for a 27th February across the pond.

"We are targeting a similar timeframe for the release of Killzone 2 in the PAL regions; specific launch dates will be communicated at a later date," a Sony Europe spokesperson whispered into the Eurogamer ear. Ear.

Kyle Schubel, managing director for Killzone 2, confirmed the US date in an episode of G4 (picked up by Kotaku).

The 27th February happens to be a Friday, which is quite an unusual date for an American release, since they usually happen on Tuesdays. Could it be a worldwide date? We can think of no other explanation. Mind you, we haven't tried very hard.

We've waited rather a long time for Killzone 2, the game spectacularly target-rendered all those E3 events ago. Fortunately, the end product appears to be looking good, as our hands-on Killzone 2 impressions should point out.

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 (48) Latest comment 3 years ago

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

  • DFawkes #1 3 years ago

    Similar to games companies is within a year. I won't hold my breath.

  • Thunderbolt #2 3 years ago

    But isnt Europe is their most 'important' region?

    Surely they should be first

    \Me jokes

  • Dizzy #3 3 years ago

    >I bet 5 copies of Halo 3 Recon.

    Oh dear.

    LBP claims like this want their bet back.

  • Darren #4 3 years ago

    @vorlon_man - Couldn't you have picked a more interesting game there? ;)

  • Fab4 #5 3 years ago

    Should be out first in Europe ffs! Its being developed here.

  • Rash' #6 3 years ago

    Fab, yeah, i agree, but you know with this style of game there's a bigger market for it in the states.

  • Triggerhappytel #7 3 years ago

    Developed in Europe - don't make us wait you fuckers.

    C'mon Sony, I'm really looking forward to this and can't wait to get hold of it!

  • Fab4 #8 3 years ago

    I don't see how staggering a release effects market share

  • Rash' #9 3 years ago

    Fab, it your initial batch is of limited quantity, it makes sense to ship it out to where you are likely to get the highest sales returns.

    as a consumer i'm not saying i agree with it, but as a businessman i can understand it.
    Edited by 1 at 05/12/08 @ 12:31

  • kungphu #10 3 years ago

    well if there is a big delay, then import it, bless region free gaming

  • Fab4 #11 3 years ago

    If I was making an initial batch that made me choose then I'd have to wonder at the effectiveness of the people I had working for me in my Sales & Marketing division.

  • Tiran_Kenja #12 3 years ago

    "similar timeframe" as for SOCOM?

  • Thunderbolt #13 3 years ago

    Rash'

    'Fab, it your initial batch is of limited quantity, it makes sense to ship it out to where you are likely to get the highest sales returns.'

    Just curious but I thought that they got the best returns from Europe.

  • Rash' #14 3 years ago

    Thunderbolt! What from an FPS? I doubt it.

  • penhalion #15 3 years ago

    Anyone on the beta will already realise it doesn't support any languages other than english. They don't have a euro date because they haven't actually done the conversions yet!

  • NotSoSlim #16 3 years ago

    Could be worldwide as maybe Sony learned from Resistence 2??

    Anywan within a week will do me.

  • Les #17 3 years ago

    "Anyone on the beta will already realise it doesn't support any languages other than english. They don't have a euro date because they haven't actually done the conversions yet!"

    Most (all?) of my US PS3 games so far (I only import, saves a lot of money) come with all European languages on the disc. Doubt that's the reason TBH.

  • Petulant_Radish #18 3 years ago

    I have a feeling Sony will not have ‘limited’ copies of this upon release, they’d better not anyway, anyone with business acumen would create enough stock and supply to cover all markets needed.

  • nbnz #19 3 years ago

    Yeah I've heard "similar timeframe" and even "same week" when talking about SOCOM so I'll take it with a grain of salt until SCEE announce it (and even then will be highly sceptical.

  • NotSoSlim #20 3 years ago

    @ nbnz

    Why bring Socom into it? The game is a bug ridden mess. Delay it sort it out & release it. Will sell more that way. More apt to mention R2 which had a month gap between here and the US!!

  • menage #21 3 years ago

    "Could be worldwide as maybe Sony learned from Resistence 2?? "

    Yeah, crash course in how to kill anticipation for your major action game. Don't release it until the hype dies down.
    Edited by 1 at 05/12/08 @ 15:23

  • Maledictus010 #22 3 years ago

    I've seen some gameplay footage (there's some new stuff on gametrailers) and it seems that during campaign play the enemy is (still) capable of getting up and firing back after a well placed headshot. This kind of stuff plagued the original too, along with weird psychotic motions when reloading guns. This is going to be COD clone x (as far as MP is concerned) with KZ1 misery, from the looks of it. I'm not at all confident here...
    As such, let the americans be the paying beta testers, i'm fine with that.
    Edited by 1 at 05/12/08 @ 15:27

  • galerian86 #23 3 years ago

    Oh come on! This guys are based in Europe, and still Sony wants to f***ed us up?

  • noller #24 3 years ago

    I could gladly do without the German localization if that meant an earlier release date. It's not that the stuff they talk about is high philosophy anyway.

  • teabagger #25 3 years ago

    So why do US launches happen on a Tuesday?

    European releases suffer delays due to much greater localisation requirements, each version of which must pass QA. Why is it that despite the fact everyone knows this, some people still come out with "Waaaa! no one cares about Europe!" ?

  • noller #26 3 years ago

    ^^ true. the whining is a bit annoying at times.

  • menage #27 3 years ago

    @teabagger.

    Well frankly, since the game is being made in freaking Holland how hard would it be to fly in a Spanish or German dude to do some voice acting alongside production?. I mean,I could find 2 sitting in a coffeeshop around the corner:p . Microsoft can do it 90% of the time. PSN can't even get freaking SF2 HD on the network in time. Now that's probably not Sony's fault completely, but the game was freaking translated already 10 years ago.

    They need to put their foot down like they do with the trophies.

    They're really killing anticipation for titles in a major way if it's out on another system or in another country 3 weeks ago. So what do they do, do they fix this, noooooo, they force sites like Play-Asia to not send me my PS3 games to Europe. So I can freaking wait.

    If it's multi and doesn't use the d-pad (like SF2HD or Soul Calibur), I'm always getting stuff on my 360 just because of stuff like this. They need to fucking stop thinking that they're in a PS2 era. The Wii can get away with this shit, not the PS3.

    This is not an anti Sony rant btw. I wouldn't have bought the system if it didn't appeal to me. I just don't get the master plan behind it all. If Capcom manages to get the freaking game on Live already here Sony should demand the same.
    Edited by 1 at 05/12/08 @ 16:34

  • teabagger #28 3 years ago

    Yeah... trouble is it's actually way more complicated than that.
    Edited by 1 at 05/12/08 @ 16:35

  • menage #29 3 years ago

    I already am.

    And no it isn't.
    Edited by 1 at 05/12/08 @ 16:36

  • teabagger #30 3 years ago

    heh!

  • menage #31 3 years ago

    Great now my answer makes no sense:p

    Kudos to you sir:p

    Edited by 1 at 05/12/08 @ 16:41

  • teabagger #32 3 years ago

    I'm sorry. But if you really knew anything about games production you wouldn't be stood here trying to claim that all you have to do is record the lines in a different language and everything is done. It simply isn't true.

  • menage #33 3 years ago

    Not games production, but television, in multiple languages, with different voice actors. And yes I know some dude needs to approve the script, get it recorded, program it into the game, get it on the servers, get it approved in that country, etc, etc, etc.

    I'm just saying it does happen for Microsoft, so there's something not really going right in they way the setup the process.
    Edited by 2 at 05/12/08 @ 16:48

  • teabagger #34 3 years ago

    Well fair enough. To be honest I agree that the localisation procedure at SCEE is slower than the competition. That said, there will always be a delay relative to the US release so any simultaneous world-wide release is generally going to be due to the US version held back a short time.

  • rotmm #35 3 years ago

    @teabagger, "Well fair enough. To be honest I agree that the localisation procedure at SCEE is slower than the competition. That said, there will always be a delay relative to the US release so any simultaneous world-wide release is generally going to be due to the US version held back a short time."

    Not necessarily true. If localisation support is actually built into your production pipeline (which is, of course, precisely how it should be done) then there's no reason whatsoever why all titles shouldn't be released simultaneously.

    However, I understand that this can't always be the case and especially not on those smaller or lower-budget titles.

    However, platform leading titles such as Halo, Resistance, LBP, Gears and Killzone all have the budgets and potential manpower behind them to ensure that such releases are simultaneous across the relevant regions (or within the same calendar week, given the various release days in different countries). Yet somehow LBP, Resistance 2 and potentially Killzone 2 are released later in the EU region, especially galling given that 2 of those titles were developed in Europe.

    So no, the problem is not because they would have to "hold the US version back", but rather that SCEJ still consider the European consumer to be behind that of the Japanese and American consumers, even though it's the European consumer that holds the most love for the Playstation brand.

  • Zomoniac #36 3 years ago

    Will US imports work ok online here?

  • noller #37 3 years ago

    Gamersyde had to put down the recent SP videos on Guerrilla's behalf. Maybe a clever marketing ploy, but I smell another massive Sony publicity fuck-up. That said, I was wondering why they published them without even a tiny spoiler warning.

  • noller #38 3 years ago

    So no, the problem is not because they would have to "hold the US version back", but rather that SCEJ still consider the European consumer to be behind that of the Japanese and American consumers, even though it's the European consumer that holds the most love for the Playstation brand.

    I don't believe in this conspiracy theory and that they deliberately want to piss of European gamers. It's more that both Sony and Guerrilla are probably way over their head with the whole schedule and the importance of it all and keep fucking it up consistently. I can imagine, that when they haphazardly announced the new February release, nobody thought of the fact that the game still was in need of localization. Now that they are aware of it and the release date approaches rapidly, they apply damage control because they couldn't possibly delay it again without the fans (such as myself) starting a riot.

    I really don't want to be in the skin of any of Guerilla's execs right now. They can only lose.

  • rotmm #39 3 years ago

    @noller,

    I don't believe there's any conspiracy here either, but rather that there's a historic disregard by SCEJ for the European consumer. We got the PS3 6 months later than the rest of the world because it was to be launched in the "important territories" first (although a "global launch" had earlier been promised).

    The Dualshock 3? Released first in Japan, soon after in the US and again some 6 months or so later in the EU after they had used this region as a dumping ground for all the unsold Sixaxis controllers that the rest of the world no longer wanted.

    To be fair, they have gotten better with games, with at least the headline titles being released usually within a calendar month of US or Japan release.

    As for Killzone fuckups by Guerrilla/Sony, don't forget that the game was more than on track for a 2008 release date and was only delayed until 2009 by Sony as a "pure management decision" to not clog up the 2008 release window. So in effect, the devs have about 3 months where little is needed to be done to the game (as it is essentially finished), so that's a more than adequate timeframe for completion of localisation work.

  • noller #40 3 years ago

    As for Killzone fuckups by Guerrilla/Sony, don't forget that the game was more than on track for a 2008 release date and was only delayed until 2009 by Sony as a "pure management decision" to not clog up the 2008 release window. So in effect, the devs have about 3 months where little is needed to be done to the game (as it is essentially finished), so that's a more than adequate timeframe for completion of localisation work.

    How do you know it was 'essentially finished'? In fact, when Gamersyde released the latest videos last week, there was someone who posted a to-do-list in the comments section. Turned out that the voice over was still placeholders and some of the cut-scene animations still needed polishing plus a laundry list of other stuff I forgot. So the game was hardly finished 3 months ago, if it's not even finished now.

    Of course, Sony doesn't go out there and say: 'Hey folks, we are sorry, but the biggest and most important release for our platform isn't quite finished yet. We need another 3 months'. What they do is they come up with some excuse that seems to make sense (like: we are clogging up the release window, of the year that was supposed to be our big one).

    As for the European delays: you are right, but again, imo it has more to do with incompetence rather than with deliberate decisions.

  • menage #41 3 years ago

    That makes sense. If they both were ready which game would you rather have going against Gears 2. Not R2 that's my opinion.

  • rotmm #42 3 years ago

    @noller,

    Are you suggesting that Sony lied about the reasons for the delay? How very dare you! ;)

    While I understand your overall point, I think this is where you looking at it from the wrong angle, "it has more to do with incompetence rather than with deliberate decisions."

    It's not incompetence (per se). However, it would take "deliberate decisions" to ensure that the EU regions were treated as equals by Sony, and this is a stance that has yet to be taken by SCEJ. It takes deliberate decisions to ensure that localisation is properly built into the production pipeline, it takes deliberate decisions to organise concurrent bluray pressings, it takes deliberate decisions to ensure promotional activities (and monies) are given equal importance in all regions.

    Incompetence is something altogether different.

    Just as it would have taken deliberate decisions to release the DS3 in EMEA region at the same time as in the US. However, deliberate decisions were taken to use EMEA as the graveyard for unsold (and generally unsellable) 6axis controllers from the "more important" regions.

  • rotmm #43 3 years ago

    @menage, If they both were ready which game would you rather have going against Gears 2.

    Let me think. Which title would a company such as Sony want to release in the crowded Xmas release schedule? Could it be the title that is barely known outside the forum-going hardcore crowd? Or a sequel to a proven seller that has been in the hands of over 3 million PS3 owners?

    I tell you, that's a tough one to decide upon.

    Oh wait, no its not.

    Jeez.

  • menage #44 3 years ago

    Well, Resistance 2 sales were freaking hot....

    Wait,... nobody gave a fuck.

    Gears was also new and guess what, that sold millions on hype alone. Killzone 2 is the big one, not R2. If it had been ready I'll bet Sony would have gladly switched them around. Why? Because the freaking line-up this year wasn't that strong and they could have used every game to could get their hands on. Pfff, letting games lie on the shelve doesn't do well for Christmas PS3 sales now does it.

    Sony had been hyping the damn game like forever. An you really think they wouldn't launch it for Christmas? Get real.
    Edited by 4 at 06/12/08 @ 17:01

  • rotmm #45 3 years ago

    @menage, Because the freaking line-up this year wasn't that strong and they could have used every game to could get their hands on

    What? You have Socom: Confrontation, the PS3 debut of a series that has sold over 8m copies on the PS2. Motorstorm 2, the follow up to a launch title that sold nearly 4m copies. Resistance 2, which as said before is the sequel to a title that sold nearly 3.5m copies. Little Big Planet, the 2nd highest rated PS3 title to date and the new poster-child for the Playstation Next-Gen experience.

    Those are the kinds of titles that the Sony PR team would have wanted to get out there in a window that includes Mirrors Edge (with Sony exclusive content on the way), the PS3 debut of Bioshock, one of the highest rated titles of all time, Call of Duty 5, a series with a proven track record, Guitar Hero World Tour, with a heritage of millions and millions of sales behind it, Quantum of Solace, a Bond title that is sure to sell, Fallout 3, one of the most anticipated titles of this generation, Far Cry 2, ditto, ProEvo09, a series that has a fantastically loyal playstation fanbase and again guaranteed sales in the million+ range, plus your Need for Speeds, Tomb Raiders, Prince of Persias, Rock Bands, Fifas and more.

    You honestly think that Sony would risk a relatively unknown title that they have sunk more than $60m into developing in that particular window?

    Sure, MS had a hit with Gears. But that's because (a) there wasn't so much competition then and (b) Microsoft ran a fantastic marketing campaign for it. And I think it's been proven that Sony just cannot run anything like a successful marketing push at present.

    On top of that, my guess (it's only a personal opinion) is that this is recently because the Playstation division is somewhat strapped for cash. So again, when that's the case you push out titles that have a heritage and will gain sales through loyalty and not launch an unproven title that has cost far too much to make to allow to sink without a trace.

  • menage #46 3 years ago

    They are not "bad" games by any means. But the sales of R2, Motorstorm and hell even LBP haven't been stellar by a long shot.

    Is SOCOM out yet, totally missed that then.

    Motorstorm and Resistance both sold well in the past, but not beacuse they were that great, good maybe. I'm not trying to talk bad about those games, but frankly, they sold well because there wasn't anything else to buy.

    I do agree with you on the fact that the 3rd paty titles have more appeal to the PS3 crowd seemingly.

    As for myself, I've only bought LBP on PS3 this last month. The rest frankly really isn't that stellar compared to a Gears 2, Fable 2 and a Fallout 3. It's my opinion off course. But the sales just don't really prove me wrong.

    I really think KZ2 could have made a difference. And like you said. If MS can sell a Gears, Sony can sell a KZ2.

  • rotmm #47 3 years ago

    @menage,

    I realise that you probably won't read this comment as it's likely to fall off the front page soon enough, but I stand by my assertion that (from a PR perspective) Sony did the right thing with its Xmas releases. That there hasn't so far been the sales figures to reflect that decision is slightly puzzling.

    Oh, and SOCOM is out in the US, and that is of course where the release calander is geared towards.

    I personally haven't seen much in the way of mainstream advertising for Gears 2 (by mainstream I mean TV and non-gaming press) and yet the game sold 2m in the first couple of days. That's purely selling to the incumbent Gears owners, and that's what Sony was hoping for With M2 and R2.

    However, on reflection I'd guess that one of the reasons that those games haven't exactly flown off the shelves is that many of the sales occured as part of PS3+game pack-ins and were therefore owned by people who weren't exactly the target audience for those types of games. Or maybe it's that the original games weren't as good as the review scores and sales suggested, with the lack of a loyal fanbase on the back of that.

    I dunno.

    But back to KZ2. Sony will be in a position to focus all their advertising strategies on a single title at the start of the new year, giving the game a clear chance at fantastic success.

    But, and this is a big but, I would suggest that we here in Europe boycott the title if we are yet again shafted with release dates. There is just no need for it anymore.

  • menage #48 3 years ago

    I do agree KZ2 will have it a lot easier next year. Which will probably give it more room to breathe. A lot of games would benefit from not ramming it into November, I really hope company's spread out their releases more like that. It really sucks to have a chpice form 10 games one week and none 4 weeks later. It really isn't healthy.