Codemasters says Bodycount's delay is down to quality concerns, telling Eurogamer that "we plan to publish the game in early summer next year and we're not being any more specific than that because we're not prepared to compromise on the quality."

Bolton taking off is is not the first notable Codies departure to affect Bodycount. Creative director Stuart Black--co-creator of Black, which Bodycount is considered a spritual successor to--left in October while executive producer Tom Gillo went earlier this year.

Promising "an orgy of bullets and destruction," Bodycount was originally slated for release in the first quarter of 2011.