Infinium Labs has announced that its PC-console hybrid gaming device and service, the Phantom, will be delayed and will now launch in 2005.
According to Infinium Labs, the delay is a result of consultations with marketing and retail partners and has nothing to do with the hardware components or infrastructure required to run the service.
According to the manufacturer's plans, the Phantom service would provide a free console for users willing to pay a subscription fee to access games via a broadband connection. The original plan called for a November 2004 U.S. release, with a European launch following shortly thereafter.
Retailers gear their fourth quarter holiday promotions around gift-giving opportunities, said Infinium president Kevin Bachus, and they feel, as we do, that our service will not be bought primarily as a gift for someone else. It will more likely be a self-purchase.
This explanation may make sense to marketing experts but it does not seem to be the right move for the creators, especially if, as they claim, the project is ready for launch. The console has already received severe criticism regarding the financial model it utilizes and its feasibility and consumer confidence in the product is shaky to say the least, a delay will definitely not help.