EA Sports has announced the cancellation of NBA Live 13.

In a post on the EA Sports website, EVP Andrew Wilson said that the game simply wasn’t ready to ship, much to his disappointment.

“We made a commitment to deliver a high quality experience – this is what our fans expect and what we demand of ourselves at EA Sports. But making great games is not easy, and we’re just not there yet on NBA LIVE 13,” he said.

“Having continued to look at the game over the past few days, it’s clear that we won’t be ready in October. And rather than launch midway through the season, we’re going to sit out the full year and stay focused on making next year’s game great.

“This decision puts us on the right track for success well into the future in a rapidly changing industry.”

“This wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s the right one for our fans. I hope you’ll agree when you’re able to play the game next year.”

NBA Live 13 was to be a triumphant return for the franchise, which released a game every year from 1994 until 2009.