Persona 4: Arena won't reach Europe by year's end

Persona 4: Golden won't make it to Europe in 2012, local publisher Zen United has confirmed.

"A 2012 release for Persona 4 Arena is now no longer possible," Zen United stated in a post on the Persona Europe Facebook page,

"We will of course, continue to update you, as soon as we have more information. We know this is very upsetting for many of you - us included, we might add - and we sincerely look forward to being able to deliver better news to you soon."

As for the reason why, Zen United referred fans back to a September FAQ, when the publisher revealed it had not yet received a completed European build.

"As we are not directly involved with the development of the game, we do not have any further information about its progress - or when the European build will be complete," it said at the time.

Zen United noted that the European build's progress is not dependent on the Japanese and US release; that it is not pursuing translations and has completed age ratings process - only receipt of the master and certification remains.

"For all EU games, there are a number of changes that need to be done to bring it in line with the regulations laid out by Sony and Microsoft in Europe. These regulations are to ensure the game will work correctly in each individual PAL territory, from individual EU countries to Australia and UK. It is at this point in the process, that the game has been delayed," it said.

"Once we have received the EU master – our job, as publisher, is to submit that build to Sony and Microsoft for final testing and approval. Once it has been approved, we can manufacture and package the game, and ship it for release. Once this has happened, we will announce a specific day and date that this game will hit store shelves."

"You will get something nice for the delay," the publisher added. "We understand everyone’s frustration surrounding this, so we are preparing something - and we’ll announce that once the new schedule for release is in place."

Persona 4 Arena is expected on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and hit the US in August.

Meanwhile, Persona 4: Golden is expected in Europe in February 2013, although nothing has been made official.

Thanks, Gematsu.