LittleBIGPlanet release delayed following Qur'an references

Offensive lyrics cause game to be recalled worldwide

20 October 2008 12:54 GMT / By Verity Burns

Sony has confirmed that the release of LittleBIGPlanet has been delayed, after the company decided to recall the game from retailers worldwide following potentially offensive lyrics were found in a background song.

The lyrics that have led to the recall were spotted by a PS3 community member, and are to do with expressions found in the Qur'an.

"During the review process prior to the release of LittleBigPlanet, it has been brought to our attention that one of the background music tracks licensed from a record label for use in the game contains two expressions that can be found in the Qur’an", said Sony on the PS3 blog.

"We have taken immediate action to rectify this and we sincerely apologize for any offense that this may have caused."

LittleBIGPlanet is now expected for release in North America on 27 October, while a European release date - speculated to be 14 November - is yet to be announced. Still, Sony assures fans it is doing everything it can to get the game out "as soon as possible".

UPDATE: Sony Europe has said BigLittlePlanet will star to appear in stores no later than the week commencing Monday 3rd November in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand, on a "country by country basis"

UPDATE 2: Sony has now clarified we can expect to see the game on UK shelves on November 5th.