Last summer, Activision and Splash Damage took advantage of Quake Wars' entrance into the internal beta-testing phase, in order to sneak the game's release past the 2006-2007 New Year's Eve. But we never imagined even for a single moment that the testing might be prolongued for so long, that we wouldn't see it polished with Gold even in 2007. Although it's still very far from being a certainty, we now have reasons to fear that the long-awaited multiplayer shooter could be delayed until the beginning of 2008.

The source of this fear is Activision's recent financial report, which places the release of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars during their 2008 fiscal year - which in more earthly terms means between April 2007 - March 2008. And here is the paragraph in question:

"The company believes that its fourth quarter results will be significantly impacted by higher legal expenses relating primarily to its internal review of historical stock option practices, including expenses relating to the previously announced informal SEC inquiry and derivative litigation, and its decision to move the release of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars into fiscal year 2008."

The most optimistic of you can therefore consider that the game has a 75% chance to launch this year. However, as other, just as ambitious projects have taught us (see S.T.A.L.K.E.R.), these internal "testings" can last for... ever. We certainly hope that's not the case here, of course.

Anyway, until further announcements from Activision regarding a more precise release date, we'll stick to believing it'll be out in 2007. Perhaps even on Xbox 360, although that's a whole 'nother story.

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)