2K narrows XCOM, Spec Ops release dates

The 2K Australia revamp of XCOM will be released sometime between April 2011 and the end of March 2012, Take-Two's money report has spewed.

Does that mean an early 2012 launch?

If XCOM was coming this autumn, why wouldn't 2K have said? The Darkness II has a confirmed autumn 2011 date and that game was only announced yesterday.

This suggests XCOM arriving after The Darkness II. And because of the FY2012 date, we know XCOM can't come out later than March 2012 (which is the end of the 2012 financial year).

Take-Two has given Spec Ops: The Line the same FY2012 release date as XCOM.

Incidentally, BioShock Infinite has a "calendar 2012" release date. It's unlikely the Irrational Games creation will appear before April 2012 - or Take-Two would have classed it a FY2012 release - so that points to a late summer or autumn 2012 launch.

During the three months between September and the end of December 2010, Take-Two made a $40.8 million profit, which is more than they did during the same period in 2009.

The big earners? NBA 2K11, Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare, Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete, Borderland: Game of the Year and Sid Meier's Civilization V.

"Looking ahead to the balance of the year and fiscal 2012, I have never been more enthusiastic about our diverse line-up of upcoming releases," chirped Strauss Zelnick, leader of Take-Two. "From unique, groundbreaking new titles such as L.A. Noire, to the long anticipated return of Duke Nukem, the interactive entertainment industry's most irreverent hero, we will deliver a broad array of entertainment experiences that promise to delight audiences around the world."

"In addition to producing triple-A titles focused on the traditional console market, we are also actively pursuing opportunities to grow our revenues by leveraging the strength of our brands in emerging markets and across new platforms and distribution channels," he went on, getting a bit more boring now.

"These include opportunities in Asia and Latin America, evolving downloadable content models and online multiplayer experiences."

Ooh, online multiplayer experiences - is Take-Two making an MMO? Probably not - it's more than likely Facebook game Civilization Network.

Tennis game Top Spin 4 arrives 15th March; Kinect game Carnival Games arrives April; Duke Nukem Forever arrives 6th May; L.A. Noire arrives 20th May; and The Darkness II arrives this autumn.