Nerd Mentality

Ubisoft And Free Radical Launch New Video Game Franchize: HazeTM

FPS title from shooter hit-makers to debut at E3 2006

LOS ANGELES – MAY 10, 2006 – Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest videogame publishers, announced the development of HAZE, an innovative FPS game based on new intellectual property.

Developed by Free Radical, creators of the critically-acclaimed TimeSplitters® series, HAZE is scheduled for an early 2007 release for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system*, Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and will also be available on Windows® PC DVD-ROM. Ubisoft will showcase HAZE at the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), May 10–12, at Booth #924 in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

"We are really pleased to be introducing this ground-breaking new intellectual property and to work with the best shooter developers on consoles" said John Parkes, director of marketing at Ubisoft EMEA. "With HAZE, Ubisoft demonstrates its profound commitment to the next-generation of video games and will definitely have a chance to deliver a top notch shooter in one stunning package".

About HAZE
Twenty-five years in the future. Governments have outsourced military operations to private multinational corporations. As Jake Carpenter, a newly enlisted soldier in the Mantel army, you are seeking fulfillment and thrills by fighting for a good cause.

Thanks to their high-tech arsenal of vehicles, deadly weaponry, and performance enhancing bio-medical support, the Mantel Corporation's ruthlessly efficient soldiers are the most feared by terrorists, dictators, and the corporation's political enemies.

Your conflict begins in a war-torn country in South America, where you have been sent to fight a vicious rebel faction, The Promise Hand. At first glance, all is well, but things quickly begin to look a little strange...

Key Features


Impeccable FPS credentials. From the developers of the critically-acclaimed TimeSplitters® series and the publishers of Far Cry®, Splinter Cell®: Chaos Theory™, and Ghost Recon® Advanced Warfighter™. Free Radical and Ubisoft have proven their ability to create innovative platform-defining FPS titles.

Next-generation gaming technology applied to a cutting-edge futuristic first-person shooter. Designed from the ground up to take advantage of next generation hardware. Prepare to be blown away by stunning visuals, hyper-intelligent AI, and realistic physics for a varied and immersive gameplay experience.

Gear up and deploy with the best of the best. Experience the devastating firepower of deadly weapons through dazzlingly rendered outdoor and indoor environments. Drive vehicles through a dense and humid jungle ravine, or breathtaking mountains, as you strive to defeat the merciless guerillas.

State of the art multiplayer modes. Fire up your console or PC for online battles on one of two carefully balanced sides. Choose from a variety of online modes including furious co-op action with your friends!


© 2006 Ubisoft Entertainment SA and Free Radical Design Limited. All Rights Reserved. Haze is a trademark of Ubisoft Entertainment and Free Radical Design. Free Radical Design and its associated logo are trademarks of Free Radical Design Limited. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are registered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment SA. Developed by Free Radical Design Limited.Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox Live are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family, "PLAYSTATION" are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

I ran in to Steve Ellis (who has been on the "team" since the Goldeneye days and directed the Timesplitters games) outsize the Haze theater and chatted with him about the game. That was the highlight of the show for me. We talked about how they kept getting asked by the media when they were going to make a realistic game - so this is their answer to that. He did assure me that there would be humor in there though.

While the trailer doesn't look groundbreaking, I trust Free Radical to deliver on gameplay. I will be buying a 360 for this game in March 2007. Be there.