SEGA's spy RPG, Alpha Protocol, appears to have slipped its original October release window and been pushed back until early next year.

Pre-orders are still offering an October 2009 release on the company's European website, but on the American page the game's profile notes a 'Spring 2010' date instead.

Perhaps the slip is to give the game a little bit more polish - a recently leaked SEGA document notes some internal comments about Alpha Protocol that slates it as "barely RPG". A few extra months of development could iron out any potential kinks.

We've contacted SEGA to see if they can confirm the delay.