Qur'an references force worldwide LittleBigPlanet recall
Background music to blame.
Sony has confirmed that it is delaying the release of LittleBigPlanet and recalling the game from retailers worldwide because it has identified "two expressions that can be found in the Qur'an" in one of the background songs.
The publisher has told Eurogamer that this means every copy of the game currently with retail in the world will be recalled and replaced, and retailers have started notifying customers of the hold-up.
"During the review process prior to the release of LittleBigPlanet, it has been brought to our attention that one of the background music tracks licensed from a record label for use in the game contains two expressions that can be found in the Qur'an," Sony said in a short statement.
"We have taken immediate action to rectify this and we sincerely apologise for any offence that this may have caused."
According to an archived snapshot of a PlayStation.com forum post (thanks vg247), the offending phrases are in the first 30 seconds of the background music to the Swinging Safari level.
Sony has said that a new launch date for the game - previously due out on 24th October - will be announced shortly, amid retail speculation that the game will go out on 14th November.