Something went wrong. Try again later

Giant Bomb News

102 Comments

Gears Of War 3 Pushed Back To Fall 2011

No, the game isn't broken or anything. Business is to blame.

Microsoft and Epic Games have made a decision that's sure to make more than a few Marcus Fenix fans scream "Aw, c'mon!" Gears of War 3 has been pushed back to Fall 2011 from its original April release date. The reason for the delay is not for a lack of polish or quality. Rather, it appears we'll be hacking Locusts to bits a smidge later than we expected because of cold, hard, and sorta unspecified business reasons. 

Here's the official statement on the matter passed around to press:

"Gears of War 3 promises to be the biggest entertainment launch of 2011. The teams at Microsoft Game Studios and Epic Games have done great work thus far readying the title for release in the spring of 2011. However, we’ve elected to move the launch of Gears of War 3 until fall 2011 to make it the marquee title for the holiday season."


So, there you have it. Microsoft wants Gears 3 to be the Microsoft-published game of 2011, and there's no better time to capitalize on the even more massive amount of marketing likely to accompany this decision than a holiday release. Word on the street is that people like to give games to other people as presents around this time, so sales tend to skyrocket with a good push.


No Caption Provided

In a statement following the aforementioned statement (dual statements!) on the official Gears website, Epic Games executive producer Rod Fergusson reiterated that this delay was a result of a business decision. He also teased that you'll be hearing much more about the game's rather promising multiplayer component--which includes four-player co-op, and the new Beast mode which pits man-as-beast against man--in the near future as Epic opens up its HQ for a press visit next week.

"I know fans are going to be disappointed with the new release date, but rest assured that this is a business decision between partners, and not a quality issue. Gears 3 was on track to be the most polished Gears of War game ever when it released in April, and this additional time allows us to polish it that much more before it hits shelves next fall. Next week we have a major multiplayer press visit at Epic HQ, and I'm really looking forward to the fans seeing and hearing about Gears 3 versus multiplayer for the first time. Lots more exciting news to come."

102 Comments

Avatar image for burns09
Burns09

349

Forum Posts

71

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By Burns09

Sucks that we have an extra 5 month wait, but Gears never seemed like a spring release to me anyway. I always thought April was a weird month for Gears.

Avatar image for ryax
Ryax

4580

Forum Posts

6

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By Ryax

whats that? 
 
Ryax's care meter is at 0 
 
He cant care any less.

Avatar image for citizenkane
citizenkane

10894

Forum Posts

29122

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 106

Edited By citizenkane

Damn.  Oh well, no matter.

Avatar image for animasta
Animasta

14948

Forum Posts

3563

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 5

Edited By Animasta

I think they're just doing it to give bulletstorm some breathing space

Avatar image for lonely_misanthrope
Lonely_Misanthrope

44

Forum Posts

8

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Hate... rising...

Avatar image for derekdanahy
DerekDanahy

891

Forum Posts

129

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By DerekDanahy

I'm bummed that we have to wait longer, but seeing how Gears 2 came out multiplayer wise, I think they can use the extra time. And hey how about adding a fucking beta with the added time?

Avatar image for scroll
scroll

641

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Edited By scroll

Anything to prevent the multiplayer netcode from being as poor as last time.

Avatar image for joeybagad0nutz
joeybagad0nutz

1500

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By joeybagad0nutz

AW C'MON!
Avatar image for deactivated-60ae53b407571
deactivated-60ae53b407571

582

Forum Posts

514

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 1

First time I've ever heard of a publisher wanting to actually push the game to a later date for business reasons. In spite of me wanting the game a lot, kudos, Microsoft.
 
Had it been in Activision's hands, they'd had forced Epic to release it in time for christmas in 2010, no matter the game's state.
 
Then refused them their money.

Avatar image for omgmetalgear
omgmetalgear

145

Forum Posts

8

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By omgmetalgear

As long as the story doesn't feel as disjointed as GoW2, I'll be happy.

Avatar image for zombie2011
zombie2011

5628

Forum Posts

8742

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By zombie2011

Makes sense, Gears is to big not to be released during the holiday season.

Avatar image for jagenheim
jagenheim

227

Forum Posts

89

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 3

Edited By jagenheim
@simian said:
" makes me wonder what they had intended to release as their premier title for holidays. "
Exactly. They must've had some other title in the works that went down the drain for a reason or another. 
Avatar image for cybexx
Cybexx

1697

Forum Posts

1458

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 9

Edited By Cybexx

I wonder why this happened now? Did Microsoft have something big slated for Fall and that slipped so they had to move Gears 3 into its place?

Avatar image for ravensword
ravensword

4330

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Edited By ravensword

Cans omeone remind me what 360 has Exclusvie wise for Q1 and 2 of next year? I really hope MS announce some stuff soon, because its looking pretty barren. I use my 360 mainly as a multiplatform box anyway and the Exclusives I like as well.
Avatar image for xxwindoverxx
xXwindoverXx

297

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By xXwindoverXx
@Cybexx said:
" I wonder why this happened now? Did Microsoft have something big slated for Fall and that slipped so they had to move Gears 3 into its place? "
They never had a big AAA title for Fall 2011 so they moved this back to make it their primary Holiday exclusive.
Avatar image for sergotron
Sergotron

598

Forum Posts

24

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 20

Edited By Sergotron

I don't mind. It seems like these last couple of years games are coming out all year around. I will play it when it comes out, in the meantime there will be plenty other out there to play.

Avatar image for undeadpool
Undeadpool

8414

Forum Posts

10761

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 20

User Lists: 18

Edited By Undeadpool

It also could be to not have it tread on a smaller release? I have no idea what's coming out that month, but Gears is going to be a huge seller WHENEVER you release it.

Avatar image for hydraham
HydraHam

1380

Forum Posts

675

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 6

Edited By HydraHam

Personally im glad because early 2011 is already stacked full of amazing games not to mention im still backlogged about 10 games plus a few more great games coming between now and JAN if i cant finish them all before jan im gonna stay backlogged.
 
damn i need more free time

Avatar image for p_p_o_d
p_p_o_d

578

Forum Posts

24

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By p_p_o_d

I was going to make a thread this week asking what MS had for Q4 2011 but I tought it would be to fanboyish,    seemed weird that gears was coming in Q2 and there was no sign of a new halo or something for the fall.     
 
I was thinking MS would just let Modern warfare 3 having holiday 2011 and put maketing money behind that but I guess I was wrong.
 
MS need ether gears or Halo for the holidays (forza is great and all but it isnt on halo/gears of war level) and I dont think 343 would be ready to relaese there halo game yet.   (plus having 3 main ahlo games in 3 years would maybe be a bad idea) 
 
sucks for Gears Fans since it seems it being moved not because it isnt ready but beacuse MS saw a gap in there release calander.  
 
on the plus side looks like another Gears of War Vs Resistance haliday....... YAY.
 
 
 

Avatar image for charlesalanratliff
CharlesAlanRatliff

5763

Forum Posts

13647

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 34

Fine with me! I have enough games to play as it is. 

Avatar image for meteora
meteora

5844

Forum Posts

17

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 3

Edited By meteora

Meh. Giving it more time for polish is absolutely great, so I have no issues with it.

Avatar image for grilledcheez
grilledcheez

4071

Forum Posts

906

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 9

Edited By grilledcheez

Ahhhhhhhh shit

Avatar image for project343
project343

2897

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 16

Edited By project343

I wonder what this means for the team at Epic. Are they going to spend another chunk of time polishing, getting a head-start on DLC, or just move on entirely until it's Fall release?

Avatar image for cybexx
Cybexx

1697

Forum Posts

1458

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 9

Edited By Cybexx
@xXwindoverXx said:
" @Cybexx said:
" I wonder why this happened now? Did Microsoft have something big slated for Fall and that slipped so they had to move Gears 3 into its place? "
They never had a big AAA title for Fall 2011 so they moved this back to make it their primary Holiday exclusive. "
Well I think they did and that slipped. Because otherwise why wouldn't they have announced Gears 3 as a Fall 2011 game in the first place, all the other Gears games have come in Fall. This type of stuff is planned years in advance, before the original Gear 3 release date announcement was made so something had to happen to change that.
Avatar image for twoonefive
TwoOneFive

9793

Forum Posts

203

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By TwoOneFive

soooo they cant decide if its for more polish or if its a straight up business decision to capitalize on the holiday. 

Avatar image for onyxghost
onyxghost

405

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By onyxghost

I love me so gears. There is still two more books by Karen Travis set to release after Anvil Gate< which came out last month and is great,  and before Gears 3 which she also wrote. Can't fault them for wanting to make money. I'd do the the same thing.

Avatar image for enigma777
Enigma777

6285

Forum Posts

696

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 8

Edited By Enigma777

Not surprised at all. I didn't think that Epic would have GeOW3 release so close to Bulletstorm...

Avatar image for buck3tm4n
BUCK3TM4N

544

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By BUCK3TM4N

aww to bad

Avatar image for confideration
confideration

607

Forum Posts

7

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By confideration

Why don't they just admit they didnt want to compete with the Duke

Avatar image for jjor64
JJOR64

19700

Forum Posts

417

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 5

Edited By JJOR64

Bummer.  Oh well, as long as this delay makes the game better, I'm all for it.

Avatar image for klaimore
Klaimore

1016

Forum Posts

2

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Klaimore

Well in that case I demand a BEETA

Avatar image for hexogen
hexogen

802

Forum Posts

3477

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 7

Edited By hexogen

*Plays a sad song on the world's smallest violin*

Avatar image for ravenousrattler
Ravenousrattler

1420

Forum Posts

188

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 6

Edited By Ravenousrattler

i think i would be more disappointed if it was spring 2011 right now, hopefully there is still stuff coming out in spring.

Avatar image for natetodamax
natetodamax

19464

Forum Posts

65390

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 32

User Lists: 5

Edited By natetodamax

It's a dirty move, but probably a smart one. April seemed like a really, really weird time to release the game

Avatar image for weggles
WEGGLES

737

Forum Posts

4

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By WEGGLES

What a great reason to delay a game :I

Avatar image for deactivated-5e49e9175da37
deactivated-5e49e9175da37

10812

Forum Posts

782

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 14

Seems foolish.  Gears would sell incredibly well in any month, and then get the holiday bump even if it was 6 months old at the time.  It is a marquee title, it can be released any time of year and still be popular by Christmas.  This just puts Gears in competition with whatever is out...
 
Of course, maybe the philosophy is that Microsoft might not have anything else for holiday, and Gears fills that gap.  Also, seems like holiday 2011 would be the right time for Uncharted 3, and it would make sense to counterprogram with the more popular Gears.  If people only have 60 bucks to spend at holiday, and you can convince them of Gears, you're working at tarnishing Sony's golden child.

Avatar image for glak
Glak

580

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Glak

Well, at least now that's one less game I have to buy in the beginning of the year

Avatar image for dougjustice
DougJustice

45

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By DougJustice

Bullshit!

Avatar image for metalmoog
metalmoog

971

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 1

Edited By metalmoog

Still haven't played Gears 2 yet.  Enjoyed Gears, but never really got horny enough to play the sequel.  Mebbies when it hits the dollar bin, i'll finally gets!

Avatar image for branthog
Branthog

5777

Forum Posts

1014

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By Branthog

Fine with me. I can't keep up with what's on my plate and what's coming out on top of that, as i is.

Avatar image for meatsim
MeatSim

11201

Forum Posts

150

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 23

Edited By MeatSim

Not really surprised what else was gonna be Microsoft's flagship fall game.

Avatar image for jonnyboy
jonnyboy

2867

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 2

Edited By jonnyboy

Yo, gotta make that money Dawg.

Avatar image for robothamster
RobotHamster

4284

Forum Posts

1446

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 11

Edited By RobotHamster

Well looks like my 360 still won't be getting played until fall 2011.

Avatar image for darkecho117
Darkecho117

126

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Darkecho117

Was really looking forward to this game but I guess it gives me more time to play everything that's coming out this Fall.

Avatar image for ice_cold_rayman
Ice_Cold_Rayman

227

Forum Posts

2789

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Ice_Cold_Rayman

That just sucks. I was looking forward to getting this in April.

Avatar image for j2d3
J2D3

14

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By J2D3

I'm calling bullshit...

Avatar image for fillmoejoe
fillmoejoe

1694

Forum Posts

36238

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 28

Edited By fillmoejoe

It sucks but I'm not surprised.

Avatar image for doctorwelch
DoctorWelch

2817

Forum Posts

1310

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 3

Edited By DoctorWelch

I never really expected this to come out next spring. Gears, Halo, and COD are the games that are supposed to come out at the end of the year because they are mega powerhouses.

Avatar image for fezz
fezz

207

Forum Posts

18206

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By fezz

That's disappointing.

Avatar image for dbagalot
DBagalot

159

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By DBagalot
@DoctorWelch said:
" I never really expected this to come out next spring. Gears, Halo, and COD are the games that are supposed to come out at the end of the year because they are mega powerhouses. "
Word. Oddly enough I hope Gears 3's multilayer will be similar to Gears 1 and not 2