The launch of the new Disney “Infinity” gaming platform is delayed until August 18 in order to capitalize on the critical fall retail season.
In January, Disney announced the launch of its most ambitious gaming initiative ever, Disney Infinity. Billed as “a new way to interact with the best of Disney on one game platform,” Disney Infinity integrates collectible character figures from various Disney and Pixar films that come to life in a “virtual toy box.”
The all-new game universe was expected to launch in June across all consoles with a phased roll-out across mobile and online devices throughout 2013, but now, according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, consumers will have to wait an additional two months to play with it.
John Pleasants, co-president of Disney Interactive, said that Infinity will now launch August 18. Wall Street analyst Mike Morris of Davenport & Co. reportedly said the delay could cost Disney about $30 million in third-quarter operating income before depreciation and amortization.
“We see this as an incremental negative relative to sentiment as the goalposts are once again moved at Disney’s Interactive division,” the analyst wrote.
Morris, though, kept his "buy" recommendation Disney shares, and Disney investors didn’t seem to care too much about the game's delay, as the stock rose 1 percent to $57.75 on Thursday.
Infinity is expected to allow users to mix together unrelated Disney characters, such as Jack Sparrow and Cinderella. Players will use traditional -- not virtual -- action figures to unlock different elements of the video game.
Disney announced Infinity at an event at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood two months ago. Back then, it was understood that Disney was timing the game's release to Monsters University, which opens June 21. The characters Mike and Sulley from that movie are also featured in Infinity, which will retail for about $75.
On Thursday, though, Pleasants reportedlysaid in a statement that Disney has "moved the launch date for Disney Infinity to August 18 to capitalize on the critical fall retail season."
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
