Uncharted 2 navigating retail Oct. 13

Last week, retailers began listing one of the PlayStation 3's biggest upcoming releases, MAG, as slipping from this fall to next year. Sony Computer Entertainment America dismissed the date change as speculation but said it had still not announced final release plans for the game.

Today, though, SCEA was crystal clear about the release date of one of the more anticipated remaining PS3 exclusives of the year. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves will ship out on Tuesday, October 13, in North America, bearing a price of $59.99 in the US. The game has not yet been rated by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, but its predecessor bore a T for Teen label.

A highlight of Sony's Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference, Uncharted 2 took top honors at the Game Critics Awards, winning Best of Show, Best Console Game, and Best Action Adventure Game. Developed by Naughty Dog (Crash Bandicoot), it continues the adventures of wisecracking treasure-hunter Nathan Drake, a distant relation of famed explorer Sir Francis Drake. The game will introduce both competitive and cooperative multiplayer to the series, as shown in the video demo below.

Even though it is drawing much media attention, Uncharted 2 still has some major shoes to fill. The first game in the series, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, had sold over 2.6 million copies worldwide as of last month. It is also being adapted into a film by Sony-owned Columbia Pictures, with Hitman 2 writer Kyle Ward writing the screenplay.

To help stoke sales, Sony is offering several preorder incentives via various retailers. At GameStop, Uncharted 2 preorders will get a code allowing them to unlock the "Revenge" booster from the start of the multiplayer campaign. Amazon.com will bundle advance orders with an exclusive treasure map, while Best Buy preorderers will be able to download gold-plated pistols and AK-47s for multiplayer matches. Finally, GameCrazy preorders will come with a currency multiplier which will let them earn in-game currency faster than their opponents.