When Ubisoft didn't show Splinter Cell: Conviction at its last event, people worried a little about how the game might be doing. Fear not — the game's doing great. So great, they say, that Ubisoft just decided it'd be better off releasing it as part of its "2009-2010" lineup instead of in this year's fiscal fourth quarter.

That's according to a report in the latest Xbox World 360 mag. Though Ubisoft isn't saying anything, the mag says it's heard that the surprising development decision has forced Splinter Cell back into the festive period of 2009 - or as late as Spring 2010.

It’s this merging of an intelligent take on stealth in real-world settings with Splinter Cell’s traditional strength – espionage combat – that makes Conviction the most interesting prospect in the franchise since birth. This is Assassin’s Creed-meets-Ghost Recon. This is Saboteur-versus-Call of Duty. This is a title determined to distance itself from Snake’s shadow in order to take its first steps in a new direction.

Ubisoft has confirmed to VideoGamer.com that Splinter Cell: Conviction, announced as a PC and Xbox 360 title, will not be coming to PS3 and will not be coming out on April 1, as previously rumoured.

The previously 360 and PC-only Splinter Cell Conviction is now also set for a simultaneous release on PS3, according major UK retailer GAME.

"The next Splinter Cell game has been redone three times over already. Developers just can't seem to include good gameplay in it. That's part of why it got delayed."

When last we saw it, Conviction was the most ambitious game we had ever seen. Even nine months on, that remains the case. With the old Chaos Theory team working alongside the best Ubisoft has to offer, if it doesn't deliver in the most epic manner possible, we'll consider it a COMPLETE failure. Oh yes.