The return to Stilwater is delayed by two months as THQ seeks to polish the gangsta sequel for a few more weeks...

Originally planned for a mid-August release, THQ today confirmed that Volition Inc.'s Saints Row 2 has been delayed until October 14th in North America. The publisher is yet to announce when the game will now hit Europe, although it's understood to be in line with the revised date across the pond.

In an interview with Reuters, Bob Aniello, senior vice president of worldwide marketing at THQ cited a desire to bring the overall quality of the game up to standard: "Product quality is a huge driver of a game's success and this move allows us to polish the game. The game is done, it's about polish."

The delay also extends the gap between Saints Row 2's release and last April's release of GTA IV, although the new date could see Volition's sequel run straight into the Rockstar's exclusive Xbox 360 downloadable content, which is scheduled to arrive in the Autumn.

Set over a decade after the climactic events of the first instalment, Saints Row 2 features expanded character customisation, and what Volition terms 'hyper-realistic' gameplay.