Ubisoft launches Tom Clancy airborne

For some mysterious reason, France-based publisher Ubisoft seems to have it out for the US. Earlier this year, the prolific publisher promoted its latest Tom Clancy-inspired series EndWar through a viral marketing campaign that played heavily on the collapse of the American government due to a fictional WWIII. Today, Ubisoft unveiled yet another Tom Clancy extension, and once again America seems to be on the unhappy side of a 10-megaton bomb.

As with the rest of the Tom Clancy franchise, the as-yet-untitled game takes place in the near future, with America under attack by a powerful private military group. However, diverging from the infantry-based warfare found in the rest of the franchise, Ubisoft's latest takes to the skies for futuristic flight combat.

At the helm of high-tech jet fighters, players will engage in "all the action and excitement of modern air combat, from intense dogfighting to tactical strikes," said Ubisoft managing director Sébastien Delen. The game will also support online multiplayer combat and have a gradient learning curve through adjustable player-assist features.

Ubisoft has tasked its studio in Bucharest, Romania, to develop the game. Ubisoft Romania's previous work includes Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII and Silent Hunter: Wolves of the Pacific.

Ubisoft plans to launch its latest Tom Clancy series in 2008 on consoles and the PC.