Blur, originally dated for November 3rd, has been delayed to 2010 today; the extra time meant for “optimizing the vision [Bizarre Creations] set out to create”.

“We are committed to making Blur a great new racing franchise, and we are very encouraged by the game’s design,” said Mike Griffith, president and CEO of Activision Publishing.

“The additional time will allow the studio to fully optimise the vision they set out to create for Blur including a distinctive and groundbreaking multiplayer mode that will appeal to a broad audience.”

Press release below.

Activision Publishing Moves Launch of New Racing Game Blur(TM)
Activision Blizzard Reaffirms Calendar Year 2009 Outlook

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 21 – Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI – News) announced today that Blur(TM), the company’s highly anticipated foray into the racing genre, is now scheduled to ship in 2010. The company is moving Blur from 2009 to give the development team more time to enhance the game’s innovative and distinctive online multiplayer gameplay.

Separately, Activision Blizzard reaffirmed the calendar year 2009 outlook it provided on August 5, 2009 due to global demand for Modern Warfare 2(TM), which continues to exceed expectations, and strong attach rates for the recently launched Call of Duty®: World at War(TM) map packs.

For 2009, the company continues to expect GAAP net revenues of $4.05 billion and GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.26. On a non-GAAP basis, the company continues to expect net revenues of $4.5 billion and earnings per diluted share of $0.63. Nonetheless, because of the continuing uncertainty in the global economic climate and the difficult retail environment anticipated during the 2009 holiday season, Activision Blizzard urges investors to be cautious and prudent in evaluating the company’s forecasts and projections. The company reports results on both a GAAP and a non-GAAP basis. Please refer to the tables at the back of this press release for a reconciliation of the company’s GAAP and non-GAAP results.

“We are committed to making Blur a great new racing franchise, and we are very encouraged by the game’s design,” stated Mike Griffith, President and CEO, Activision Publishing. “The additional time will allow the studio to fully optimize the vision they set out to create for Blur including a distinctive and groundbreaking multiplayer mode that will appeal to a broad audience.”

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Blizzard, Inc. is a worldwide online, PC and console game publisher with leading market positions across every major category of the rapidly growing interactive entertainment software industry.

Activision Blizzard maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, China, South Korea and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision Blizzard and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activisionblizzard.com.