UK games publisher Eidos has confirmed that Shellshock Nam '67 has been delayed to September 2004. The announcement followed a warning by the company that it will either make a small loss or just about break even in its financial year ending June 30.
According to the company it has been hit by a recent and unexpected softness in the games market..., especially in the U.S., a condition which has severely affected Hitman Contracts sales. What Eidos is, in effect, doing is holding back a title which is complete, in order to protect it from the traditionally quiet summer season. This move seems to be very risky, especially when considering the big titles currently planned for mid to late summer release i.e. H-L 2 and Doom 3, both of which still have no official launch date and may well see their release delayed until September.
The choice not to launch a highly anticipated game at a time when competition is low, may seem unfortunate but it may have to do with the upcoming end of the financial year and the company wanting to get the timing right for its next financial term. Whatever the reasoning it means that gamers will also have to continue suffering the traditionally soft gaming summer since another oasis may have been withdrawn.