Sony Apologizes for Goat Carcass at <cite>God of War II</cite> Party

The Daily Mail reports that a release party for God of War II held in Athens, Greece last month featured a decapitated goat as part of its festivities.

The goat was purchased from a local butcher by a Greek firm that Sony hired to throw the party, but the firm refuses to say just how and when the animal was slaughtered. Animal rights activists were outraged, especially after pictures from the party appeared in the Official PlayStation Magazine, and suggested that a boycott of Sony products would be appropriate. Sony apologized and promised to recall the entire print run, reprinting it with the pictures removed.

Though the issue had yet to be shipped to retailers, it had already been shipped to subscribers, so I'm sure you'll be able to find the pictures in question on the Internets soon enough. Sony's UK office was apparently as surprised as the party guests to see the extent of the festivities and made the following statement:

Sony does not condone or sanction any inappropriate behaviour by its staff or sub-contracted staff.

It has come to our attention that at the God Of War II launch showcase, an element of the event was of an unsuitable nature.

We are conducting an internal inquiry into aspects of the event in order to learn from the occurrence and put into place measures to ensure that this does not happen again.

Slaughter: Horror at Sony's depraved promotion stunt with decapitated goat [Daily Mail, via GamesIndustry]