North American Haze descends May 20

Ever since it first appeared at the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Haze's release status has been a bit foggy. Originally announced for the PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, the first-person sci-fi shooter became PS3-exclusive last year as it suffered several delays. After being pushed back to the first quarter of 2008, the game was delayed again in January before finally being given a May release window.

Now, two days after getting a European launch date of May 23, Haze has seen its North American release date nailed down. It will arrive in US and Canadian stores on May 20, just three weeks before the launch of another anticipated PS3 exclusive, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Haze is rated M for Mature for blood, intense violence, strong language, and drug use, and will retail for $59.99.

Developed by Free Radical, the studio behind TimeSplitters and an as yet unnamed LucasArts game, Haze is set in a not-so-nice near future where the world is dominated by Private Military Corporations (PMCs). One such multinational, MantelCorp, is fighting against an international rebellion with an army of supersoldiers in bright yellow armor. Players begin as one such soldier, who, like his comrades, sees his combat abilities enhanced--and his mind controlled--by a powerful chemical called Nectar that Mantel exclusively dispenses.

Though Haze won't hit stores until the latter half of May, the early part of the month will see a demo for the game appear exclusively on the PlayStation Store. Unlike many thin game demos, Ubisoft is offering players a taste of one of the game's most compelling features--online four-person co-op--in the demo.