Former Sony Worldwide Studios head Phil Harrison has told GamesIndustry.biz that his old employer made "absolutely the right decision" in recalling stellar PlayStation 3 exclusive LittleBigPlanet from sale.
"I wasn’t privy to all of the discussions and debate that went on within Sony," he said, "But I know they would have thought very deeply about it, and at the highest level of the company."
Last week watchful PSN users discovered that one of the game’s background tracks contained extracts from the Qu’ran, an appropriation of scripture some Muslims have found offensive. Sony issued a worldwide recall last Friday.
"On reflection I think it was absolutely the right thing to do," Harrison went on, "Because LittleBigPlanet set out from day one to be a game for the entire world – and if there was anything that accidentally detracted from that vision and made the game not fun for the entire world, then the game would have fundamentally failed in its mission."
"So I think Sony took absolutely the right decision – painful though it was, and frustrating though it might be for gamers who were looking forward to it. It only seems to have heightened the anticipation, so I think it’ll end up being a win, and full credit to Media Molecule for turning around a fix as quickly as they did."
Now president of Atari, Harrison was an advocate of Media Molecule’s glorious 2.5D platforming venture from the outset. "I think people are going to be blown away by the game," he gushed, "And while I’m obviously sad for the stumble, I don’t think it will affect the long term success of the game one iota."
LittleBigPlanet is now down for release on November 5 in the UK, in the week commencing November 3 in Europe, and in the week commencing October 27 in North America.