Atari delays Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach to 2006

Atari's Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game, Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach, has slipped from its planned November release date, to early 2006.

While the PC title will miss its mooted 2005 launch, public alpha testing has still gone ahead. Players wishing to participate can register on the official site. Gamers with message board accounts will gain priority selection for the testing.

Developed by Turbine, Stormreach is the first MMORPG to use the Dungeons & Dragons license from TSR and Hasbro subsidiary Wizards of the Coast, using 3.5 Edition rules and an experience/treasure system that rewards quests accomplished, rather than enemies killed. The company has also worked on the Asheron's Call series and will see its The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar's title also released next year.

The delay of Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach, comes in the same week Atari announced a loss of $32.8 million in the quarter ended June 30th.