Bayonetta will come out in Japan on October 29, but it won’t come out stateside until January 2010.
Mike Hayes, President and COO of Sega West, explained the delay with the following statement, “Bayonetta is an extremely important new IP for SEGA and adds a new level of depth to our growing portfolio. As a result of market analysis we have taken a Publishing decision that January 2010 is the optimum release time in the Western Markets to maximize this exciting new title’s potential.”
The holiday season is always a busy time and even critically acclaimed new IP like Valkyria Chronicles didn’t fare well then. Sega may be making the correct marketing decision, but that thought won’t console hordes of fans hyped for Bayonetta.