Digital Illusions to develop new PC game for EA

Swedish developer Digital Illusions CE (DICE), the company behind Electronic Arts' extremely successful Battlefield series, has announced that it has signed a contract with EA to develop a new shooter for the PC. The game, currently untitled, is scheduled "for a spring 2006 debut," according to the company's official Web site.

2006 has already been a busy year for Digital Illusions. Battlefield 2, set to be released tomorrow, marks the latest entry in Digital Illusions' popular franchise. DICE is also currently at work on Battlefield: Modern Combat for current-generation consoles and recently announced that a version for Sony's PlayStation Portable is in the works from an EA UK studio. The company also recently announced several unnamed games for various platforms and shut down its New York operations earlier this month. In January, EA became the majority owner of the company when it acquired more than 3 million shares on the open market.

DICE's Canadian studios, located in London, Ontario, will be working on the project announced today. The game will be based on an existing DICE franchise, meaning that it could be an expansion to a Battlefield game or its anticipated sequel. Neither DICE nor EA have made any official comment on specifics of the game.