50 Cent rearms for Blood on the Sand

Nearly two years ago, 50 Cent and Genuine Games stupefied the gang-banging crowd with 50 Cent: Bulletproof for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Though it was promptly pistol-whipped by critics for its myriad shortcomings, Bulletproof reached certifiably platinum status, selling nearly 1,030,000 copies in the US across its two platforms, with an additional 72,000 units sold of the 2006 PlayStation Portable overhead shooter G Unit Edition. (Sales data comes courtesy of the NPD Group.)

Numbers such as those are difficult to dispute, so it comes with little surprise that Vivendi is prepping an Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 follow-up, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand. Speaking with MTV, Vivendi Games producer Aaron Blean said Blood in the Sand will feature the rapper-turned-media mogul in a "Three Kings meets Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels crime-story" semisequel to the original urban gangster shooter. Though story details are still under wraps, Fiddy will reportedly battle "a cabal of international gangsters on a far-flung, bullet-riddled adventure."

Swordfish Studios (Cold Winter) will be handling development duties for the project, and the development outfit has licensed Epic Games' near-ubiquitous Unreal Engine 3 to aid it in that process. Taking cues from Epic's Gears of War, gamers will primarily be dropped into the shoes of 50 Cent while being accompanied by a second character, with G Unit entourage Tony Yayo, Whoo Kid, and Lloyd Banks thus far named as selectable for the rapper's partner in global defense. As with Gears, co-op play will be available locally or online.

MTV also reports that Blood in the Sand will feature more than just the first game's shoot-'em-up gameplay, as both land- and air-based vehicle missions will be factored into the game. Like Bulletproof, however, the game will feature a variety of promotional media, including exclusive first-looks at videos and movies featuring the oft-perforated artist.

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand is expected to hit consoles this fall.