THQ confirms WWF Smackdown! 3 for the PS2

THQ has confirmed the tentatively titled WWF Smackdown! 3 for the Sony PlayStation 2. Smackdown! 3 will improve on the series' strong lineage with 78 styles of matches, including six-man tag-team matches, more than 1,000 different moves, and 35 WWF superstars. The game will also include the ability to show nine wrestlers squaring off in the ring at one time. Additional gameplay features include the ability to rush opponents as they enter the ring, fight the player's own tag-team partner after a loss, and distract the referee before performing illegal moves.

"Having sold well over 4 million World Wrestling Federation video games to date on multiple platforms, the progression to the PlayStation 2 will thrill our fans," said Alison Locke, executive vice president of North American publishing for THQ. "We can't wait to show off the look and feel of the World Wrestling Federation franchise on a system as powerful as the PlayStation 2."

Like the two previous games, WWF Smackdown! 3 is being developed by Japanese studio Yukes. The game will be released this fall, and it will include full commentary, which is a first for the series. THQ will also release WWF Raw Is War for the Microsoft Xbox console.