Splinter Cell: Conviction Gets February 2010 Release Date

Ubisoft used the Tokyo Game Show forum to announce a formal release date for its anticipated Splinter Cell Conviction, which is now set for February 23, 2010. According to consumer weblog Kotaku, the game will release on Xbox 360 and PC on the same date. It had been originally slated for the publisher's Holiday 2009 lineup, but joined a number of high-profile titles shifted out of the crowded holiday season to give them a better competitive edge. Another delayed major release, BioShock 2, also received a new February release date this week. The publishers of shifted titles hope bonus polish time -- plus the additional visibility of a non-Holiday launch -- will improve their title's chances, but revenue strategy also plays a role. Some publishers delay titles to better distribute their revenue opportunities across their fiscal year. Such moves are fairly common, but thanks to economic factors creating a higher risk for big budget titles, the focus on delayed titles this year has increased. Some analysts express concern that the shifts will result in a Spring crunch that is equally as competitive as the Christmas season.