Unreal II confirmed for Xbox

Atari has today announced that an Xbox version of Unreal II: The Awakening is currently in development and scheduled for release before the end of this year. The game, which is currently being developed by Tantalus and Atari's own Legend Entertainment in concert with Epic Games, will boast a number of enhancements over the PC version released earlier this year--not the least of which will be a number of new multiplayer modes.

"Unreal II: The Awakening raised the bar for single-player first-person shooters on PC, and now Xbox owners will get to experience the same amazing gameplay along with the multiplayer benefits of Xbox Live," said Steve Allison, vice president of marketing in Atari's Los Angeles studio. "The game features a great story, amazing graphics, and truly unique gameplay styles that keep it exciting from beginning to end. It's the perfect title for console shooter fans."

New features for the Xbox version of Unreal II will include the option for two players to play through the single-player campaign cooperatively, as well as an all-new class-based, team-oriented multiplayer mode on Xbox Live. Today's press release also suggests that enemies in the game will be more intelligent than those in the PC original--seeking cover during firefights, working together in teams, and reacting differently to players according to what kind of weapon they're carrying.

Unreal II: The Awakening for the Xbox is currently scheduled for release toward the end of this year. We'll bring you more information on the game as soon as it becomes available, but in the meantime, you might be interested to check out our full review of the PC version.