Rough dates for The Conduit and Alpha Protocol, too.

MadWorld screenshot

Gearbox Software's hotly anticipated shooter Aliens: Colonial Marines will be out for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC in the first quarter of 2009, SEGA has confirmed.

The news puts paid to concerns over the development of the game following perceived lower than expected sales of Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway.

Although SEGA was unable to clarify exactly what months Q1 2009 include when contacted by VideoGamer.com, it is expected to run from April to the end of June, the first three months of the Japanese company's financial year.

In November last year Gearbox president Randy Pitchford issued a statement to press confirming Aliens had not been canned following rumours that SEGA had cut the funding on the project.

The Aliens: Colonial Marines confirmation comes in an updated release schedule sent to media today by SEGA. It details a February release for House of the Dead: Overkill and spring release for The Conduit on Nintendo Wii, as well as a Q1 2009 release for Obsidian RPG Alpha Protocol.

The updated schedule in full:

23rd Jan 2009 PC Football Manager Live

February 2009 Wii House of the Dead: Overkill Horror
February 2009 Wii House of the Dead: Overkill: Collectors Edition
February 2009 PS3 SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Collection
February 2009 X360 SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Collection

March 2009 PC Empire: Total War
March 2009 PC Empire: Total War: Special Forces Edition
March 2009 DS Bleach: Dark Souls
March 2009 PS3 Stormrise
March 2009 X360 Stormrise
March 2009 Wii Sonic and the Black Knight
March 2009 Wii Madworld

Spring 2009 PSP Phantasy Star Portable
Spring 2009 Wii The Conduit

Q1 2009 PS3 Alpha Protocol
Q1 2009 X360 Alpha Protocol
Q1 2009 PC Alpha Protocol
Q1 2009 PS3 Aliens: Colonial Marines
Q1 2009 X360 Aliens: Colonial Marines
Q1 2009 PC Aliens: Colonial Marines

2009 PS3 Bayonetta
2009 X360 Bayonetta