A Microsoft spokesperson has told Edge that Epic’s long-awaited Gears of War 2 will not be released in Japan.
“We can confirm that Gears of War 2 will not be available in Germany or Japan indefinitely” said the spokesperson. The news may come as a shock to many observers as the original Gears of War was one of the first titles to crack the Japanese software charts during a time when the 360 console was selling at its slowest.
Gears had sold 33,212 copies in Japan in its first week and entered the software charts at number seven. The game has sold over 3m units worldwide and was the first title to overtake Halo 2 as the most popular game on Xbox Live.
The reasons why the game will not be released remain unclear. In May this year Germany’s ratings organization declined to issue the game an age certificate.
Update: Evidently this story is causing waves within Microsoft. A spokesperson has contacted us to "clarify" that "no announcement has been made" about plans for Gears of War 2 in Japan.
Network now...
As an information site, you guys should be more careful of making the statement...
I once had my drivers license supended indefinitely... Then I paid $700 and was able to get another one.
I bet you've never had problems with your fishing license.
I forgot to renew it a few times.
This is exactly what they said about Gears last time and this is how it went:
On release date, all German stores carried fully localized versions made by and imported to Germany from Microsoft Austria. Since Gears had no rating, the censorship goonsquad will go after Gears. But that might take a week! Had Microsoft applied for a rating (and failed), then the goonsquad could have reacted BEFORE release, but Microsoft does not want that. They want it in stores for that crucial first days.
After a week or so, Gear receives an "Indizierung". Microsoft is not allowed to advertise it after that. People can still buy it, all they have to do is walk to the counter, ask for it and show some ID. The shop will either have it, or again get it from Microsoft Austria.
So just because Microsoft says Gears will officially not available, the game will be unofficially everywhere. Meanwhile "Banned in Germany and Japan" is the slogan for teenagers everywhere to start impulse buying the game in the pursuit of juvenile violence.
Er, Limanima, do your research - Gears of War 2 will play in European, American and Japanese 360s.
So, it's not impossible to import.
In that case, what's this news about?
Gamers can import it, so no problem.
I wish I could import this game to my PS3...
What's the big deal? Just import the game.
Ooops. Forgot that this is not a PS3 game. Impossible to import. That sucks...