When the PS3 system launches today, Take-Two's 2K Sports publishing label will deliver NBA 2K7 and NHL 2K7, the only third party NBA and NHL titles available at the launch of the PS3 system. Additionally, 2K and 2K Sports plan to publish more than eleven additional titles for the PS3 system, including College Hoops 2K7 in January, followed by Major League Baseball 2K7 in late winter, The Darkness in the spring, The BIGS in the summer, NBA 2K8 and NHL 2K8 in September; and additional sports titles based on 2K Sports proprietary brands, as well as additional high profile licensed and original new franchises from 2K.
"We applaud Sony for helping raise the bar in the next generation of gaming," said Paul Eibeler, Take-Two's President and Chief Executive Officer. "As the hardware transitions to the next generation, Take-Two is working hard to position itself to emerge as a leading next generation publisher, with our focus on delivering quality titles and harnessing technologies like Sony's cell processors and blu-ray storage capacity, as well as its proprietary SIXAXIS(TM) wireless controller. We're not asking gamers to wait until we can evolve into the technologies. From day-one, our development team will astonish gamers with the fullest, deepest and most entertaining titles on the market."
Descriptions of select announced Rockstar, 2K and 2K Sports games for the PS3 system includes: (listed in anticipated order of release)
NBA 2K7
NBA 2K7, available day-one of the PS3 system launch on November 17 as the only third party NBA video game for the PS3 system, storms the court as the finest next-generation basketball experience with high definition quality visuals. NBA 2K7, the #1-rated basketball video game series for five-straight years*, supports full 1080p, bring fans closer to the NBA experience with enhanced Signature Style animations and new free-throw shooting using the exclusive PS3 system SIXAXIS wireless controller.
NHL 2K7
NHL 2K7 for the PS3 system, available November 17 as the only NHL video game at launch for the PS3 system, breaks away from the competition, bringing stunning realism and authenticity to the game. Boasting new enhanced graphic details and improved responsive gameplay, NHL 2K7, featuring San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton, utilizes the exclusive PS3 system SIXAXIS wireless controller in two key features. When using Crease Control(TM) - NHL 2K7's unique goalie perspective feature - goalie movements are tied to the SIXAXIS wireless controller. Also, players can check opponents by quickly moving the PS3 system SIXAXIS wireless controller toward the direction of opposing players, bringing a fresh and unique hockey experience on the PS3 system.
The Darkness
Infusing innovative gameplay and storytelling elements, The Darkness, shipping in spring 2007, provides a unique first-person shooter (FPS) gaming experience that takes place in a dark and gritty New York City. The Darkness is being developed by Starbreeze, who revolutionized the FPS genre with its award-winning title, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay. With The Darkness, Starbreeze again raises the bar and delivers immersive first-person action/horror gameplay that allows players to wield an assortment of guns and utilize horrific powers like demon-summoning. The Darkness is based on the cult-hit comic book "The Darkness," which is published by TopCow and features a story written by Paul Jenkins, the famed comic-book author of Civil War: Frontlines and Wolverine: Origins.
Grand Theft Auto IV
Developed by world-class designers Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto IV is the next-generation console debut of the genre-defining, blockbuster Grand Theft Auto franchise. Grand Theft Auto IV will be in stores in North America on October 16, 2007 and in Europe on October 19, 2007.
L.A. Noire
Rockstar Games, in partnership with Team Bondi, are developing L.A. Noire, a ground-breaking next generation crime thriller. L.A Noire is an interactive detective story set during the classic late 1940's noir period in a perfectly recreated Los Angeles before freeways, with a post-war backdrop of corruption, drugs and jazz. L.A. Noire will truly blend cinema and gaming with action, detection and complex storytelling that will draw players into an open-ended challenge to solve a series of gruesome murders.