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Rock Band 2 "this side of Christmas"

External PR says so, then changes mind.

One of EA's external PR outfits in the UK has said that Rock Band 2 will be released "this side of Christmas".

Overjoyed, obviously, we rang up proper EA to double-check formats and other details, but from the publisher's response it sounds as though the date may have gone out in error and not be final. A spokesperson was unable to confirm anything.

"MTV, Harmonix and EA have not formally confirmed a UK release date for Rock Band 2," we were told.

A few minutes later, the authors of the original mail wrote to say: "The release date in Europe is still to be confirmed. We expect to be able to announce release shortly." Whoops.

Rock Band 2 is already out in the US on Xbox 360 and PS3, and a British TV advert recently claimed the game would be released here in November. Except, we then heard that was a mistake.

Hopefully EA will get to the bottom of this soon though, because, as we said in our Rock Band 2 import review, it's rather good.

Activision will be hoping it slips, though. As you will know if you read our Guitar Hero World Tour review this week, it wins for the moment, but an imminent Rock Band 2 would be more of a threat.