Gears of War 2 is, as you’re soon to find out, absolutely incredible. Put another way, we entered a recent preview event as jaded cynics and left as tambourine-banging converts. Shame, then, that the whole world won’t be able to enjoy this beautiful, brutal but brilliant game…

More specifically Gears 2, as a Microsoft spokesperson has devastatingly revealed to Edge “Will not be available in Germany or Japan indefinitely.”

Harsh words, although we can’t say we’re especially surprised that Germany won’t be getting the game since anything with the merest hint of claret is considered verboten in almost all cases (although, curiously, not the Call of Duty series). However the decision not to publish in Japan is a real head-scratcher.

After all Japanese stomachs are strong enough for the ultraviolent dismemberments in titles such as Resident Evil 4 and Ninja Gaiden aren’t they? Gears of War #1 was one of the first Xbox 360 games to crack the Japanese software top ten too. And that’s before we even get to Microsoft’s current mission to firmly establish their next-gen console in that notoriously tricky territory - surely that’ll be set back now?

However the real reasons behind this puzzling decision remain unknown for the time being. If that changes and the explanation is suitably funny or interesting we’ll be sure to let you know.