Matrix Online Slips In Favour Of Simultaneous Worldwide Release Date
Which will be 18th January 2005
It seems that most MMORPG news of late has been on the negative side. In fact, it’s been mostly disastrous, detailing cancellations of some of the most promising titles, and the indefinite delay of others. Whilst World Of Warcraft and Saga Of Ryzom are two such titles to have recently neared the conclusion of their development quests, Sega has announced today that its take on online role-playing, The Matrix Online, will be joining the stragglers: losing its November US release date for one on January 18th.
However, it’s not really as bad as all that. Jason Hall, Senior Vice President of Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment, is insistent that the game hasn’t run into any major development, technical or costing issues. Speaking to Gamespot, Hall made the confident clarification that, “I can assure you that it’s going to ship on January 18th […] We’re very confident in our ship date.”
The reason given for the slight delay is that Warner Bros and Sega are looking for a simultaneous worldwide release date. Given that The Matrix is a global franchise and that MMORPGs benefit from having the biggest user-base possible at the time of launch, this does seem like a perfectly sensible policy – even if it does mean that the stateside Christmas rush will be missed.
The Matrix Online will surely be worth watching with some interest. Sega has made some interesting moves in recent months, and Warner Bros’ enthusiasm for the games industry is fairly evident in much of what Jason Hall has said since his appointment to the interactive division. With this being one of the first major MMORPGs to base itself on a mainstream franchise, as opposed to a fantasy or sci-fi setting, it could be a good indicator of the future potential of the genre.
However, it’s not really as bad as all that. Jason Hall, Senior Vice President of Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment, is insistent that the game hasn’t run into any major development, technical or costing issues. Speaking to Gamespot, Hall made the confident clarification that, “I can assure you that it’s going to ship on January 18th […] We’re very confident in our ship date.”
The reason given for the slight delay is that Warner Bros and Sega are looking for a simultaneous worldwide release date. Given that The Matrix is a global franchise and that MMORPGs benefit from having the biggest user-base possible at the time of launch, this does seem like a perfectly sensible policy – even if it does mean that the stateside Christmas rush will be missed.
The Matrix Online will surely be worth watching with some interest. Sega has made some interesting moves in recent months, and Warner Bros’ enthusiasm for the games industry is fairly evident in much of what Jason Hall has said since his appointment to the interactive division. With this being one of the first major MMORPGs to base itself on a mainstream franchise, as opposed to a fantasy or sci-fi setting, it could be a good indicator of the future potential of the genre.
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