The delayed release of the latest Tomb Raider computer game featuring cyber-babe Lara Croft has forced publisher Eidos to cut its annual pre-tax profit forecast.
Shares in the company slipped 8 per cent despite Eidos saying the delay is not expected to impact the overall estimated sales for the title.
But the British release of Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, which launched successfully in the Untied States last week, means sales will not contribute to the current financial year.
Eidos said that up to one million units of the game would ship in Europe in July - the first month of the next financial year.
The long-awaited title was originally due out last November but tweaking of the game has repeatedly delayed its publication.
Eidos said in March it was keen to ensure the game was of sufficient quality to meet expectations. More than 29 million games from the popular Tomb Raider series have been sold to date.
In March Eidos announced its return to profit after three years in the red thanks to bumper sales of its Hitman 2 and Timesplitters 2 titles over the key Christmas period.
PA