Atari and Artifact Entertainment have today announced that Horizons: Empire of Istaria will be released in Europe on December 12. The massively multiplayer online role-playing game was originally scheduled for release in November but has been delayed so that Artifact Entertainment can spend more time optimizing and improving the game before it goes on sale.

　　"Our decision to do the retail launch of Horizons in December allows us to optimize code, polish our extensive tradeskill system, refine combat, engage new modules of monster artificial intelligence, expand the deep quest system, and ensure a stable and fun online experience," said David Bowman, creative director and co-president, Artifact Entertainment. "I think players will be suitably pleased with the end result as we deliver a world where players have a massive impact on their environment--a dynamic place where cataclysmic events could change the appearance and function of the world in real time right before your eyes."

　　Horizons: Empire of Istaria is currently scheduled for release in North America on December 9 and will allow players to explore a fantasy world made up of numerous different environments including a tropical jungle, arctic tundra, windswept plains, and mountainous wilderness. For more information, check out our previous coverage of the game.