Some disappointing news for Xbox 360 fans this morning, as Microsoft has announced the much-anticipated Sci-fi RPG Mass Effect has been given an official release date of September 2007, a couple of months after its initially expected June or July arrival.

CVG reports that the changed date of developer BioWare's upcoming release will pit it head-to-head against Blue Dragon, a first-party RPG which is also set to hit shelves in September. The site predicts that such an occurrence will, contrary to popular belief, be beneficial to Microsoft as a result, which will avoid releasing any of its most popular games in the' Summer drought' - an infamous annual period where the frequency of videogame releases slows considerably.

Mass Effect takes place in the year 2183, and the player assumes the role of an elite human soldier named Commander Shepard. The storyline revolves round the ancient prophecy that every 50,000 years, an alien race arrives in the galaxy to harvest all organic life. That time is rapidly approaching fast and Sheperd, along with his elite force, have been made responsible for putting a stop to the intruding creatures' devastating plans.

BioWare has promised that Mass Effect will emerge as a trilogy spanning the entire life of the Xbox 360, and maybe even beyond. In addition, gaps in the title's plot will be filled via updates over Xbox Live.

Perhaps it'll be worth the extra wait after all?