THQ off-roadin' in Baja in August

Baja California's vast expanses of sun-kissed sand have long been a favorite for off-road racing. So it isn't totally surprising, then, that the Mexican province's name has been appropriated for an all-new PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 game from THQ, publisher of the MX vs. ATV series. The title is being developed by Phoenix, Arizona-based indie studio 2XL Games, which was founded in 2005 by several of the founding members of Rainbow Studios (MX vs. ATV Untamed, Cars).

Like the recently released Burnout Paradise, Baja will be set in a vast open world containing many individual racing events. Unlike Criterion's critically lionized racer, THQ's offering will be set in 100 square miles of unforgiving outback, replete with mud bogs, steep mountains, and deep canyons. A variety of events will be available, ranging from vertical hill-climbing challenges to grueling circuit races, which can be played via four-player split-screen multiplayer capability or with up to a dozen players online.

"THQ is thrilled to bring something completely new to the off-road racing genre," said THQ vice president of product development Richard Browne. He promised that the game, which is due out in August in North America, would also sport highly realistic vehicle physics while still offering easy-to-play arcade modes.