If you believed the news that Atlus USA would not be publishing Catherine stateside, then it appears as though you’ve been misled. But, if it’s any consolation, that bit of misinformation was probably intentional.

Following an announcement last week that Catherine would not be released in the US, it seems Atlus USA has changed its tune in just a few short days. Either fans were really vocal in their disappointment to the point of persuading the publisher to release the game or this was Atlus USA’s intent all along. If that’s the case, then well played, Atlus.

Developed by the Atlus Persona Team, responsible for the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series, the game looks absolutely bizarre.

Revolving around a man named Vincent (as well as his girlfriend Katherine and the mysterious Catherine), the game is an action-adventure puzzle game, with a dash of survival horror thrown into the mix. How could someone say no to that?

Developed for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the game is slated to hit US stores on July 26, 2011, at least if GameStop is to be believed.

BREAKING NEWS: ATLUS RELEASES CATHERINE SCREENSHOTS, TEASER TRAILER

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA — MARCH 2, 2011 — Atlus U.S.A., Inc. today denied releasing new screenshots and a teaser trailer for Catherine, the upcoming HD mature romantic thriller game from the makers of Persona, for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

“You can’t believe every little rumor you hear out there on the internets,” stated Crystal Murray, Atlus PR Specialist. “The internet’s a big series of tubes, and sometimes when everyone’s trying to download their emails at the same time, some of the stuff goes into the wrong tube.”

The publisher immediately followed this statement by releasing said assets. The announcement trailer and screenshots will playfully, but tastefully tease fans with what they could expect from the story of the treacherous love triangle between Vincent, Katherine, and Catherine. Fans are encouraged to keep checking out Catherine’s goods on the official website,http://www.catherinethegame.com, where they can hear samples from the soundtrack, view media, and discern if and when Atlus will finally put out… more information.

Catherine is currently scheduled to release in Summer 2011 for PlayStation 3 system and Xbox 360 system. Stay tuned for exciting extras!

About Catherine

Vincent likes his girlfriend. Katherine’s pretty, smart, and successful. Trouble is, she’s starting to talk about long-term commitment, something Vincent’s spent his entire life avoiding. Since romantic complications are the last thing he wants to deal with, Vincent meets his friends for their regular night of drinks. Little does he know that he’s about to be blindsided by a beautiful, seductive, irresistible freight train named Catherine. Suddenly, he’s hung over in bed next to the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, unsure about the previous night’s events. Was it just making out, he wonders, or did something more serious happen between them? Should he tell Katherine? Will he ever see Catherine again? Vincent’s about to find that a stumble on the staircase of love can turn into a horrific, fatal plummet…

Key Features

The Horrors of Love–Vincent’s waking fears, doubts, pressures, and growing guilt about commitment and fidelity now gleefully follow him into his dreams, manifesting as horribly disfigured monsters and a ticking clock.

Between a Rock and a Soft Place–The player must navigate Vincent through heavy moral decisions. As in real life, hardly anything is black and white. What is the value of honesty? What is the right thing to do? Either way, someone’s going to get hurt. Worse yet, someone could die.

The Nightmare of Your Dreams–Under the watch of producer Katsura Hashino, acclaimed director of Persona 3 and Persona 4, famed character artist Shigenori Soejima and master composer Shoji Meguro create sights and sounds unlike anything else. As unforgettable and original as the game’s narrative, Catherine’s visual direction and musical score define and perfectly complement Vincent’s terrifying ascent into the dizzying perils of love.

Escape With or From a Friend–Local competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes, in addition to leaderboards, ensure that the many thrills and horrors of racing through twisted stages can be enjoyed by more than one player and add hours of extra gameplay to the overall experience.

About Atlus

Video game publisher Atlus has established itself as one of its industry’s most consistent, celebrated companies. With proven success across a variety of genres and platforms, including enthusiast-oriented games like the Shin Megami Tensei franchise of award-winning, fan beloved roleplaying games (including the hit Persona sub-series of games and the prestigious Nocturne) and Demon’s Souls (winner of GameSpot.com’s 2009 Game of the Year Award), Atlus provides quality critically acclaimed interactive entertainment to a wide spectrum of customers.

Atlus has published games for every major video game console and handheld system, including the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™, DS™, PSP® (PlayStation® Portable), and PC.

Atlus is the privately held subsidiary of Index Corporation, located in Tokyo, Japan.