Starsky & Hutch 2 announced

Empire Interactive has today announced that it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Consumer Products to develop a sequel to Starsky & Hutch. Starsky & Hutch 2 will feature improved visuals and new city locations, and it will allow players to pursue villains on foot as well as from behind the wheel of the undercover cops' trademark 1974 Ford Gran Torino.

"After the recent success of Starsky & Hutch, we are delighted to have acquired these sequel game rights," said Ian Higgins, CEO of Empire. "This is an important franchise for the company, and with the new Hollywood movie due next spring, the awareness and interest will increase significantly. We look forward to building this into an even bigger hit than the original game."

"We're very pleased to be continuing our licensing deal with Empire Interactive for the Starsky & Hutch property," said Al Ovadia, executive vice president for Sony Pictures Consumer Products. "Empire really captured the essence of the Starsky & Hutch property in the first installment of the video game, and we're confident that the new game will further the property's global appeal."

Starsky & Hutch 2 will be published in Europe by Empire, but it's not yet clear if Gotham Games will pick up the rights for North America as it did with the original game. We'll bring you more information on Starsky & Hutch 2 as soon as it becomes available.