Sony has postponed the global release of the new and much-anticipated video game LittleBigPlanet due to concerns that it may offend Muslims. Copies of the game already in shops are being recalled after it was discovered that a background music track contained two phrases from the Koran.
Sony has issued an apology for any offence that the use of the backing track might have caused. A new version of LittleBigPlanet will now go on sale on October 29th in the US and November 5th in the UK.
A gamer spotted the Koranic phrases and sent an email warning that mixing music and words from Islam’s most holy text could be considered deeply offensive by Muslims and suggested producing a software patch to remove the music. The manufacturers, however, decided to recall the game instead.
The music in question comes from a Grammy award winning Somalian artist and has been available through online music stores for months.
In June 2007, Sony apologised to the Church of England after setting scenes in a violent video game inside Manchester Cathedral. On that occasion the game was not withdrawn.