MotorStorm Apocalypse is nigh

It's time to stock up on canned goods and shotgun shells, as Sony has dated the long-awaited apocalypse. SCEA and SCEE today announced regional release dates for MotorStorm Apocalypse, with North American gamers being granted an extra month to make their final arrangements. European gamers will hit the road in Sony's latest racer beginning March 16, while North American players will be able to join in starting April 12.

Where previous installments of the series were almost a world tour of exotic and eye-catching natural environments, MotorStorm Apocalypse is set in an earthquake-ravaged metropolis inspired by the US Pacific coast, specifically the San Francisco Bay Area. Not only will the races take place in the aftermath of a massive tremor, but they will also be interrupted by aftershocks that change the landscape and shift routes on the fly.

Developer Evolution Studios is also adding a single-player story mode that lets gamers experience a narrative unfolding from the eyes of three characters that represent the game's different difficulty levels. The game also features five new vehicle classes, 40 distinct races, and a four-player split-screen mode that's compatible with the online modes for up to 16 players. Finally, Apocalypse will feature customizable vehicles and a game mode creator so players can put their own stamp on the action.

For more on MotorStorm Apocalypse, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.