Alpha Protocol isn't out yet. You may not know that, because it wasn't actually technically delayed from its November release, it just... never came out. The release date came and went, Gamestop employees scratched their heads, and the title simply didn't arrive on store shelves when it was supposed to. It was, indeed, delayed, but the PR team seems to have forgotten to mention it. Hopefully, Sega has learned from its mistake, and will at least announce a delay if they push it back from its brand new release date of June 1st, 2010. That's the new date, according to a press release sent out just a few moments ago, promising that Xbox 360, PC, and PS3 fans will be able to dive into the modern day espionage RPG early in the summer.

The press release is below, and stay tuned for an interview with one of the creators in the coming weeks. Here's a teaser: they think it's going to be really good, and we really, really, really hope that they're right. Mass Effect 3 is a long ways away, after all.

SEGA'S ALPHA PROTOCOL, THE FIRST MODERN DAY ESPIONAGE RPG; TO HIT STORE SHELVES ON June 1st, 2010 IN NORTH AMERICA
SAN FRANCISCO (February 25, 2010) – SEGA® of America, Inc. is proud to announce that Obsidian Entertainment’s long awaited Alpha Protocol™ is hitting store shelves this summer. The espionage game, a fiercely original take on the role playing game genre, will launch in North America for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC on June 1st, 2010.

“The wait has been worth it. It is time for an RPG to go beyond fantasy and space,” said Sean Ratcliffe, Vice President of Marketing for SEGA of America. “The genre needs a shot in the arm, and renowned developer Obsidian has delivered. Alpha Protocol will be the absolute best it can be, and we look forward to revealing fresh aspects of it to the community in the upcoming months.”

With a plot torn from today’s headlines and more twists than a season of “24”, Alpha Protocol brings a new level of modern day realism to the world of RPGs. Tasked with uncovering the perpetrators behind a tragic missile attack on a passenger jetliner, players dive into a story rich with characters and locations to discover an international arms-dealing conspiracy. Through their actions and choices, players direct the outcome of the game as they ultimately decide who to befriend, trust or kill.

In Alpha Protocol, players assume the role of rookie spy Michael Thorton and are given unprecedented control over the development of his abilities and interactions with other characters. Customizable character skill-sets, attributes and weapons all play an important role in allowing gamers to tailor Thorton to their play-style.