Confusion reigns over when Unreal Tournament 3 will now be released, with assuring fans that they're still working hard and keeping their fingers-crossed for a release by Christmas, while the publisher are already stating that the new has been pushed back into 2008.

The game was previously scheduled to hit the and this November, with an edition following in 2008, however Epic's vocal boss Mark Rein said last month that UT3 might not make it out the door by now. Further confusion was piled upon these vague statements by the latest word from Midway, who in a new financial report, state that the game won't be released until 2008.

The game is now expected to arrive between January and March next year, according to the publisher, who have also delayed Blacksite: Area 51 until next year.

"As a public company, felt an obligation to its shareholders to let them know about the possibility of a delay," explains Rein on the confusion. "But our goal is still to get the PS3 version of UT3 in stores before the end of 2007."

That said: "We will only ship it once it's ready and is the best game we can deliver," affirmed Rein. More shortly.

By Luke Guttridge