Resistance 2, the sequel to the PS3’s Resistance: Fall of Man, may be headed to the PS3 for Holiday 2008, if the latest online rumors are to be believed. Unfounded or not, online rumors gain momentum faster than Gabe Newell rolling down a hill, but this one may hold water.
According to GameInformer magazine (courtesy of the NeoGaf forums) Resistance 2 is headed to PS3 this holiday with one single-player campaign focusing on Nathan Hale, one separate story-based campaign supporting two players offline and eight players online, plus online multiplayer support (with dedicated servers) for up to 60 people. The online options will include clan support, classes, new vehicles including a “Chameleon” (a Stalker with a cloaking device), occasional randomized level geometry and online stat tracking.
NeoGaf is hit or miss, but GameInformer is legit, so take the rumor as you will. Exercise a little common sense, though, and the timing of “Holiday 2008” seems a bit odd.
Sony has already announced that Killzone 2 is scheduled to ship this holiday season. Would SCEA really risk cannibalizing sales from one of its premier first-person shooters for the sake of releasing another PS3-exclusive FPS? That seems highly unlikely. Another idea, however, could explain the news (again, if the holiday 08 release of Resistance 2 ends up being true):
What if Killzone 2 is going to be delayed?
Sony knows the stakes (and expectations) are high for Killzone 2; the stakes have been that way since the first Killzone 2 CG trailer shown years ago at Sony’s E3 press conference. With the stakes so high, could Sony be giving Killzone 2 a bit more time in the oven? And if it is, could Resistance 2 be a well-timed release to deflect attention from a Killzone 2 delay and a move to ensure Sony had another FPS on the shelves this December?
Like the Resistance 2 rumor, this is all speculation. In fact, we could find no indication on GameInformer’s Web site that Resistance 2 was coming to PS3 this year. But if Resistance 2 releases for PS3 this November or December, we would not at all be surprised to see Killzone 2 go the way of GTA IV: Delay City.
[UPDATE]: The story is true, and the rumors confirmed. GameInformer just updated its Web site. Now, let’s just see what this means for Killzone 2, if anything….
