Microsoft has confirmed that the hotly anticipated Xbox 360 action-RPG Mass Effect will not be released until the first quarter of 2007.

To be fair, the company always said that Mass Effect, being developed by those masters of the RPG, Bioware, would ship some time this winter -- but that did hold out a slight prospect of the game shipping before Christmas.

To soften the blow, however, we've unearthed some new Mass Effect screens, which show off the games graphics, and the level of detail given to its characters, to stunning effect. Enjoy...