Forum member Space Sweeper recently uncovered two brand new screenshots from Gearbox’s Colonial Marines:

They both show a synthetic that has been torn in two with an APC parked nearby. The first is a closer image, the second is the same scene but from further away. Thanks to Cellien and Space Sweeper for bringing this to my attention and of course a special thanks for Takhen for uncovering them in the first place.

Kotaku recently spoke to Gearbox president Randy Pitchford who confirms Aliens Colonial Marines is still on for a mid-2010 release. He also says the Aliens CM game for the DS is real but it’s not being developed by Gearbox.

“Aliens: Colonial Marines, Gearbox’s Aliens shooter, is still very much on, but won’t be arriving this year. When it does hit, there will be a DS version as well though, Gearbox president Randy Pitchford tells Kotaku…

And the rumored DS version of Aliens: Colonial Marines? It’s real but not being worked on by Gearbox, Pitchford says. It sounds like WayForward Technologies are indeed working on what they have called their spiritual follow-up to Contra 4.”

Thanks to Peteysodes for the news.

Update: Sega confirms via Gamespot what Gearbox have said. ACM is still to be released at some point next year. IGN have also confirmed that the Aliens RPG is still scheduled to come out too.

Variety.com has just posted up a new article stating that Colonial Marines isn’t cancelled but maybe seeing release under a new developer:

“However, I’ve just spoken to a source in a very good position to know what’s up with both games who told me that they’re definitely not canceled. Production is expected to continue and the games, both of which are well into development, will come out. But quite possibly not with the developers they’re at. “

This collaborates the information I’ve recieved from my own sources. However, just to build on what I’ve heard: The RPG isn’t being canned. It is merely postponed while Obsidian concentrate their work on Alpha Protocol (the other Sega game they are working on). It is Colonial Marines that is in danger of changing hands. As you may have all read in various other articles, Sega is “reviewing” the quality of the game and my source is saying that Sega aren’t too keen on what they see.

So we’ll see. Just keep an eye out, here and various other gaming websites, for more news as it comes. Thanks to Cellien for the Variety article.

Now before this article from Screw Attack goes around causing any panic from the fanbase, I just wanna get the proper news out there. Sega PR has changed the release date from the 1st quarter to “to be announced”. It’s nothing to worry about and to be frank it should have been expected.

I think it’s for the best as this allows Gearbox more time to polish the game up and ensure we aren’t delivered an incomplete game. It also allows Sega more time to prepare for publicity. I am currently awaiting a comment from Sega regarding the move and we’ll see how it all plays out.

Now as many of you may have seen, countless gaming websites are running rampant with the news that Sega is listing Gearbox’s Colonial Marines for release in the first quarter of 2009. I recently spoke with Sega PR to get this news confirmed:

“Those dates are from the current UK retail release schedule which gets sent out weekly (as I understand it) apparently its been Q1 09 on there for quite a while so it’s a little surprising people have suddenly gone “look its still there!” but yes that is the current ”˜date’ for ACM.”

I’m just waiting back on confirmation whether it is of the fiscal year or standard calendar. So I’ll update when I get a reply.

PlayStation magazine PSW (PlayStation World) recently did a massive article on the upcoming Colonial Marines game. While they released no new screenshots, they did reveal quite a bit about the game!

• One aspect of the story ties neatly into the Aliens universe is the use of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation as an over-arching evil, a puppet-master pulling the strings behind the action. Though your immediate survival against the Sulaco’s alien infestation is your primary concern, the game will build in a conspiracy story behind the gameplay.
  
• There will be more than six episodes to wade through, including some revelations that could affect the Aliens cannon.
  
• All team members are essential. One marine will be able to hack security doors another will be able to set portable gun turrets. Each carries their own signature weapon. The officer carries a standard pistol, while the other squad members carry flame throwers, pulse rifles, grenades, one even carries an RPG
  
• Gearbox has said new aliens will be introduced to ensure that there’s plenty to shoot.

Forum members WarWager and Sh0dan have been kind enough to scan up the pages and post the new information, the rest of which you can read in the CM board. The game is sounding better and better. Keep your eyes on this space for more news.

There’s a couple of stories circulating today on Kotaku and ShackNews that Gearbox / Sega was going to drop Aliens: Colonial Marines altogether. Apparently, Gearbox let go of a large number of employees today because Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway hadn’t sold well. Kotaku also mentions that Sega may have cut the funding on Colonial Marines because they were concerned that the project couldn’t be delivered on time and on budget.

Gearbox president Randy Pitchford has since made a statement saying the game is still in production but a release date hasn’t been confirmed. If the game is still in development, I’d expect it to be delayed at the very least. Still, there’s no smoke without fire. Sure is strange that we’ve seen very little of Aliens: CM and absolutely nothing of Obsidian’s Aliens RPG.

Gearbox threw a party on Friday to celebrate the upcoming release of Brothers in Arms Hell’s Highway and Samba de Amigo. Among the game trailers shown, there was a short teaser trailer for Aliens: Colonial Marines. Somebody recorded it on a camera and leaked it online.

It starts off with the camera moving over some Alien Eggs and some Marines talking over the radio. One of the eggs opens and then a Facehugger jumps out… Then the trailer quickly switches to the title and gunfire and shouting is heard in the background.

The first footage of the upcoming Aliens Colonial Marines game can be seen on ShackNews. Jace Hall visited the Gearbox studios and shot this footage with a camera.

Looks good so far. It’s running smoothly. Thanks to CelticPred for the news.

Well, E3 2008 has been and gone and there was no sign of Aliens: Colonial Marines or the Aliens RPG game. VideoGamer.com spoke to Gearbox president, Randy Pitchford, about why Aliens: CM didn’t appear at E3.

When we caught up with Pitchford over at 2K’s booth to talk to the Gearbox president about his other upcoming shooter, Borderlands, he told us SEGA pulled Aliens for reasons relating to their “marketing and promotion strategy”. He said: “Here’s the thing. I want to show it, everybody wants to see it. They’re going to make the decision to do that when it’s the best value for what their marketing and promotion strategy is.” When asked if the game had been pulled because it wasn’t ready to be shown, Pitchford replied: “No, no, the game is in great shape. People are going to freak out when they see it. I can’t wait to show it.”

He goes on to say that Sega has to be careful about how they market the game and communicate information that is within Fox’s boundaries. Thanks to ShadowPred for the news.

Update: Joystiq spoke to Sega about this issue. Apparently, the game needs a little more time before Sega put it in front of press. More news about the status of this game will be announced after E3.