Midnight Club hits the streets September 9

All eyes are on next week's launch of the much-anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV from Rockstar Games, but the developer is already looking forward to the next big sequel in another of its well-known franchises. Rockstar Games announced today the release dates for Midnight Club: Los Angeles on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, as well as Midnight Club: LA Remix for the PlayStation Portable.

All three versions of the game will arrive in North American stores on September 9, with European releases scheduled for September 12. Midnight Club: Los Angeles was originally scheduled for an early 2008 release, but was delayed by Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive "to leverage the retail strength leading to the key holiday-selling season, and in order to provide some distance from the release of Grand Theft Auto IV."

Like GTAIV, Midnight Club: Los Angeles features an open-world design. Unlike GTAIV, it won't include any weapons or combat, and will sport customizable licensed cars and tuner parts including rims, tires, and spoilers. The console editions of Midnight Club: Los Angeles are being developed by Rockstar San Diego, with Rockstar London working on the PSP LA Remix.