Yet another anticipated fall release has been delayed. Early this morning, SEGA announced that Bayonetta, the over-the-top action brawler from Platinum Games, has been pushed into next year.

However, while the Japanese version of Bayonetta manages to keep its October release date, the western version Bayonetta will release in January 2010, almost two months from its original release date in November.

“Bayonetta is an extremely important new IP for Sega and adds a new level of depth to our growing portfolio,” said Sega West president Mike Hayes.

“As a result of marketing 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.”

Midway Newcastle may be on the verge of closing its doors, but that hasn’t stopped it from announcing its development on its newest IP, Necessary Force. However, its announcement isn’t a lost cause, the studio hopes that it can end its seek for a buyer with it.

Develop even had the chance of meeting up with studio head Craig Duncan to talk about the game, which after three months of work is playable, and says the team is not giving up just yet.

“The idea of a detective who sets his own rules is the sort of story that’s been around in movies for a while, but we don’t think anyone’s managed to capture the essence of those choices and consequences in games,” said Duncan. “That unprecedented level of open world influence and troubled morality is something we’re really keen to explore.”

“It’s really important that people know that this is a team that wants to stick together – sometimes when you look at buying a studio you can worry that the real talent, the people, will just flee the ship, leaving you with some IP, kit and an empty building; the pieces of the puzzle that aren’t really worth anything,” he added.

“But everyone here as worked together for at least two years, with the original core team still together after about ten years. We’ve been through the ups and downs and all want to stay working together.”

“Despite all that’s been going on, we’ve only had three people leave this year – it just goes to show that everyone wants to stay together, how galvanized they are as a team. They don’t know if they’re going to have a job in a month’s time, but they’re still putting in a huge amount of effort now; staying until nine in the evening working on this – and that’s because they’re all so motivated by the great project we’re working on.”