Arkham dealyed? Q1 is the new Q4

UK retail sources are suggesting that Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 is to see its release date pushed back from this Q4 to Q1 2011, paving the way for yet another massively competitive opening quarter to the gaming year.

We’ve been told that Warner has acted early to avoid releasing the game into a heavily congested pre-Christmas market,” the retailer told CVG. It wants to dominate the first quarter of 2011 instead, when it can get maximum retail space and mind share amongst gamers.”

Warner points out that it has never announced a release date for Batman: Arkham Asylum 2.

2010 has brought with it a change in the way that publishers, who traditionally save their strongest product for the Christmas Q4 period, view the quarter. High-profile releases have included Final Fantasy XIII, BioShock 2, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, God of War III, Mass Effect 2 and Just Cause 2.

And Q1 2011 is quickly shaping up to be just as competitive. Confirmed for a release in the period are the likes of Gears of War 3, Bulletstorm, Marvel vs Capcom 3 and Bodycount.

And other titles possibly hitting that quarter include Killzone 3 and Star Wars: The Old Republic.