Transformers: Dark of the Moon gets prequel game

Since Activision acquired the Transformers license in 2006, the only thing that's changed as much as the robots themselves has been the developers responsible for their games. That's going to change for the gaming tie-in of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, as Activision today confirmed that it has commanded a repeat performance from War for Cybertron developer High Moon Games.

Though it bears the same name as its cinematic inspiration, Transformers: Dark of the Moon is actually a prequel to the big-budget blockbuster, which arrives in theaters July 1. The game will introduce Shockwave to the Transformers movie games, as well as a new mechanic. In addition to their robot and vehicle modes, the Transformers in Dark of the Moon will have a hybrid "stealth force" mode combining firepower with mobility.

High Moon will handle development on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game, while Behaviour Interactive is prepping distinct versions for the Wii, 3DS, and DS. Beyond War for Cybertron, High Moon is best known as the studio behind Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy game, as well as the 2005 horror-themed first-person shooter Darkwatch. Behaviour Interactive's recent projects include MySims: SkyHeroes, Dante's Inferno on the PSP, and Dorito's Crash Course on Xbox Live Arcade.

Lego Star Wars developer Traveller's Tales handled the first Transformers movie game on all consoles in 2007, shortly before being acquired by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. For the sequels, Activision handed the Xbox 360 and PS3 responsibilities to Luxoflux (which it later shuttered), with Krome Studios handling the Wii version. The next major Transformers release from the company, War for Cybertron, went to High Moon Studios on the Xbox 360 and PS3, with Next Level Games (2009's Punch-Out!!) developing the Wii version.

For more on High Moon's last effort, check out GameSpot's review of Transformers: War for Cybertron.