MGS: Peace Walker delayed until April; Gran Turismo 5 release date slips to “this fall”

More delays announced for Sony’s big titles, MGS and GT5 fans weep…

It’s been a week of bad news and inconsistent attitudes for Sony’s friends in Japan as Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker officially slips to 29th April and more disappointing light is shed on the release of Gran Turismo 5.

Speaking on his own blog, Hideo Kojima was quick to issue an apology to the Japanese gaming public — with whom he continues to enjoy celebrity status — for the relatively last minute delay in Peace Walker’s release. Kojima stated that “there is no greater crime as a games developer” than to “delay after a release has been announced”.

He went on to say that an official announcement of a game’s release date was “nothing less than a promise” to the gaming public, and that it may take time to “earn back trust that has been lost”.

Trust is something that Kojima is unlikely to have difficulty rebuilding. Messages of sympathy arrived soon after the heartfelt apology and a delay of just over a month is unlikely to dampen enthusiasm in Japan for the PSP exclusive; a game Kojima himself see’s as a genuine sequel to Metal Gear Solid 3.

Closer to home however and with far less sympathy, exasperated fans of the Gran Turismo series were dealt another slash to the tires in an interview with Sony Europe executive James Armstrong. Picked up by GT Planet, the interview offers little solace after last week’s official delay of the Japanese release in March.

Whilst clarifying that there was still no official release date, Armstrong went on to suggest that he expects Gran Turismo 5 to finally cross the finish line “this fall, before Christmas”. Although not in the least bit surprising, the words “this fall” will offer little encouragement to fans who had hoped the March delay would be a minor one to apply the last spit and polish before a summer release.

The game seemed to have picked up momentum recently, with a pre-Christmas time trial demo proving it actually does exist, but series creater Kazunori Yamauchi appears no closer to giving us the keys to his racing baby.

It’s currently unclear whether Microsoft will launch a fourth Forza Motorsport title during the next eleven months, but on current form we wouldn’t bet against it.

Gran Turismo 5 has currently been in development for 5 years and will launch alongside Duke Nukem Forever; at some point between now and the collapse of space and time. Maybe.

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