Let me tell you story.
When KOTOR came out for PC, i posted my prdection for the release of KOTOR 2. I used the following assumptions
1)Xbox 2 would come out by 2006 so the game would have to come out before then if the 'buy a xbox for kotor 2' theory would work'
2) It would be financily sucessful.
3) Ign had posted the article, which was right after all.
I therefore said that the game would come out early 2005. It made sense. However other gamers had a cry bout that, it was all romours and for somereason needed the 'offical' statment.
Now KOTOR 3 will come as a realease title for xbox 2. Microsoft want it. Lucasarts can see the $$$ fir it now. A engine for the game is already underway most likely.
The moral of the story is that you dont always need offical annoucements to know if and when a game will come out. Just use logic and its all works out.