Aliens vs. Predator skirmishing in February

Sega's Aliens franchise has seen a good bit of drama this year. In February, the publisher canceled its deal with Obsidian Entertainment to make an Aliens role-playing game and delayed its Gearbox Software collaboration Aliens: Colonial Marines out of 2009 and into 2010. At the same time, Sega also announced a brand-new installment in the franchise, Aliens vs. Predator, which will predate the Gearbox-developed shooter.

Today, Sega updated its official Web site with news that it currently expects Aliens vs. Predator to be available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in February. When contacted for clarification, a Sega representative confirmed the date, but said it was "freshly poured concrete, as in it's still setting."

Sega has tapped Rebellion for development on Aliens vs. Predator, an apropos arrangement considering the British studio was behind the well-regarded PC shooter of the same name, released a decade ago. As detailed in GameSpot's first look at the game from the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Aliens vs. Predator will be a story-driven first-person shooter that offers gamers three separate campaigns, following the two titular species, as well as the humans.

Beyond the single-player storyline, Sega has also said that the game will feature an online multiplayer component. However, Rebellion has yet to detail what this feature will entail.