MAG unloading Jan. 26

When stores listed the PlayStation 3-exclusive shooter MAG as being delayed last month, Sony Computer Entertainment America was dismissive. "We have made no announcements in regards to MAG's launch date," said a rep. "Retailers are speculating."

Today, they speculate no longer. "The team at Zipper and SCEA are happy to announce that MAG will hit North American retailers on January 26th, 2010," read a chipper PlayStation Blog post today from SCEA director of development Seth Luisi. No reason was given for the delay of the game, which Sony said would ship this year at its Electronic Entertainment Expo press briefing in June.

Developed by former SOCOM specialty studio Zipper Interactive, MAG is an ambitious online military shooter that will feature 256 players in a single game. Each player will assume a different rank on each side, viewing the battlefield according to their station. Commanders will see the action from a top-down view from which they can direct lower-level soldiers, who will see from a first-person POV on the front lines. GameSpot's E3 preview has more information on the title, which may--or may not--be pay-to-play.

As a consolation prize for the delay, SCEA is having a MAG Community party in downtown Seattle during next month's Penny Arcade Expo. For more details on the event and instructions on how to RSVP, head over to the PlayStation Blog.