Nintendo UK’s first half release schedule omits Brawl, spokesperson confirms a pre-July launch is "currently not planned." Updated: Clarification leaves door open for Q2 release.
Nintendo UK has unveiled its early 2008 software release schedule for Wii and DS, revealing the dates for several already released holiday titles in other regions such as NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure (both coming in January) and Battalion Wars 2 (February 15th). The list also provides a Q2 launch window for Mario Kart Wii, but is most notable for a single omission, that of Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Set for a February 10th launch in North America, the highly anticipated all-star fighting extravaganza’s absence from the schedule quickly prompted inquiry from the media. Speaking to CVG a Nintendo UK spokesperson confirmed that Brawl "is currently not planned for a release in Q1 or Q2 of next year" without expounding on the causes for what would constitute (at minimum) a four month lag from the North American release. Such a delay will assuredly apply to all the PAL territories including continental Europe and Australia along with the UK.
Also missing from next year’s first half slate is Wii Fit, which is widely expected to launch in North America within the first six months of 2008 following its launch last week in Japan.
Updated: Nintendo UK has responded to the speculation regarding Brawl’s PAL release by clarifying its position on the early 2008 schedule with CVG. The list "confirmed launch dates for Nintendo titles launching in Q1 2008," and while it also included some listings for beyond that period, "all Nintendo software titles launching in Q2 2008 have not been finalised or confirmed to date" according to a spokesman.
This stance is not entirely inconsistent with the previous statement that there are no current plans for a PAL Brawl launch inside Q2 2008, but does make explicit that the door remains open for a pre-July release. It also reaffirms that Brawl will not be arriving in Europe immediately after the North American launch; rather, there will be at least a near-two-month lag for PAL Wii owners waiting for Smash Bros.
