We’ve been told retailers began notifying pre-ordering customers yesterday, saying that while the decision has been made now out of respect for those affected by the earthquake – which has killed over 100 people – Sony may revisit the matter in the future when it’s a bit less sensitive.
These reports have been made by customers, and have not yet been confirmed by Sony. We’re reaching out to the publisher for confirmation, and will update if we hear back.
UPDATE – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has confimed the move.
Thanks Simon and Tim!
Nicholas Sims
Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 2:38 PMWell, personally I don’t like it when companies make decisions for us. I mean sure, I am in no way connected to the earthquake over there, but still…
Surely they couldn’t have just made a warning to anyone who was going to but it? Like a sticker or something, saying that the game involves graphic scenes of destruction similar to an earthquake.
Scott
Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 5:53 PMSo … does that mean MW3 isn’t gonna come out cause an Aussie soldier died recently over in the Middle East?
What garbage.
No one is making Kiwis buy the game and it surely isn’t marketed on the in game earthquake like “OMG buy Motorstorm cause EARTHQUAKES YEAH!!!”
Akira
Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 3:41 PMI think this might be a little of an over reaction. What happened in Christchurch was terrible, but not advertising the game would have been enough. Not that it would have been advertised anyway, it is after all a Sony 1st party game. I can however see why they would delay it’s release, at least they are thinking.
Simon Boyd
Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 4:18 PMhow pathetic another case of Political correctness gone to far
Scott Heald
Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 5:23 PMhahahaha!
googootz
Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 6:39 PMTo be honest i can see why they’re doing this, not out of respect for the new zealand people or those effected by the quake but just the media shit storm they’d potential face if they did. weighing up like an incredibly small market potential verse potentially looking really bad internationally it makes sense.
Prinny Dood
Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 8:18 PMIt’s like we ban Call Of Duty cos It has you shooting peoples and peoples get shot everywhere.
Ripley Newbold
Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 11:27 PMWay to kick them while their down. Seriously, I mean buildings fall down in a million other games, movies and tv shows. Whats so different about this one?
Aaron Clement
Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 6:47 AMLook at it from the reverse perspective: If they did release it, you can almost bet your bottom dollar that some random group would’ve jumped on it and started a big campaign against Sony, calling them out in the media etc. It’s a lose/lose for Sony really. Damned if they do, damned if they don’t.
kiwi gamer
Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 7:19 AMSony are doing this as a pro-active brand exercise. Only negative brand awareness would have been achieved by this games release in NZ, while bodies are still in the rubble
kiwi gamer
Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 7:23 AMOnly negative opinions would be associated with the Sony brand if this title was released in NZ while bodies are still in the rubble.
Sony are more than one game title, good PR move
Thomas Fulton
Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 1:03 PM“Don’t mention the war!”
Jackal264
Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 1:22 PMat least they will get mortal kombat!!!
Robert M
Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 4:08 PMOhhh my that’s rich so I guess they have to ban Enslaved, Fallout, I am Alive etc because they look too similar to the events?
Sony have a bunch of idiots working for them with no balls.
Hey life goes on, promote the game and offer a percentage to aid a relief fund to help the people.
“Political Correctness” = Censorship
5footassasin
Monday, February 28, 2011 at 12:12 PMThey aren’t banning it, they are just not releasing it – as pointed out above releasing it would just mean a bunch of dicks start complaining in the media. That’s not a decision by a bunch of idiots with no balls, that’s a decision by a bunch of people who like keeping their jobs
Leo W'ski
Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 2:35 PMThats it *slams fist down* I’m going to boycott Angry birds now as I just saw a pig get hurt.
Kiwi_Gamer
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 2:21 AMOk, i get it…yes big disaster happened here in New Zealand..and Song would get a tonne of people shitting on them for it…but seriously, life goes on…no use crying about it, shit happens…i mean hell…look at all these games to do with war…look at Medal Of Honor for instance..that had you playing as the terrorists in multiplayer…ok, yeah that got a few complaints…but that didn’t stop EA from releasing it, you are always going to have a hate/love relationship towards anything in this world, i would understand holding it off here for awhile….but not all together, that is just plain…stupid.