Lost Planet spin-off hitting PS3, 3DS

Capcom will launch a Lost Planet spin-off title for the PlayStation 3 and 3DS called EX Troopers, according to the latest issue of Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu (translated by Andriasang). Development on the game will be led by Monster Hunter series producer Shintaro Kojima.

According to the report, EX Troopers will take place in the same world as Lost Planet, but that will be the only main similarity to the series. EX Troopers will sport an anime visual style and will tell a "school-themed story," says the magazine.

More specifically, EX Troopers will recount a battle between snow pirates and the indigenous Akrid aliens on the planet EDN-3rd. Gamers will suit up as Bren Turner and will be introduced to female snow pirate TeeKee, who has the power to communicate with the Akrid.

Kojima explained that EX Troopers was designed with the intent to be a beginner's action shooter, but did not offer more details. The game is reportedly 60 percent complete and is due to ship later this year, ahead of 2013's Lost Planet 3. That game is a prequel to the original Lost Planet and is currently in development at Spark Unlimited.