Dungeon Siege III launching May 31

Obsidian Entertainment has been on a game-release bender over the past half year, having teamed with Sega on Alpha Protocol in June and Bethesda Softworks on Fallout: New Vegas in October. Now, the studio's next project has been given its marching orders, as Square Enix announced today that Dungeon Siege III will be released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on May 31. The game will be available in Europe on May 27.

Along with announcing a release date, Square Enix also offered first word on preorder incentives for Dungeon Siege III. For PC gamers who pick up the game through Steam, Valve will include single-player versions of Dungeon Siege I and II free of charge. Best Buy, Amazon, and GameStop's preorder incentives grant customers in-game items, ranging from amulets to rings. Meanwhile, Wal-Mart prepurchasers will be offered a Dungeon Siege mini-comic and a Prima Games strategy guide.

The latest incarnation in the long-running Dungeon Siege franchise will again be set in the kingdom of Ehb, where the balance of power between rival factions has fallen apart. Players will take on the role of a member of the disgraced protectors of the land, known as the 10th Legion. With the kingdom tearing itself apart, the Legion is tasked with rebuilding its numbers and restoring peace.

Gamers will be able to experience the aforementioned story through either single-player action or drop-in, drop-out cooperative multiplayer for up to four. Dungeon Siege III also features four customizable player classes, and players will be able to recruit personality-rich companions to aid them on their journey.

Although Obsidian is lead developer on the game, the studio is receiving an assist from Gas Powered Games, which created the franchise. Square Enix went on to note that Gas Powered head Chris Taylor is serving in an advisory role on the project.

For more on Dungeon Siege III, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.