Soldier of Fortune: Pay BackComing this fall?

Update: An Activision representative has confirmed to Shacknews that Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back is currently in developement and will be published by Activision's Minneapolis office.

Original Story: A third entry in Raven Software's first person shooter series Soldier of Fortune may be headed to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC this fall, according to recent retailer listings. Said listings indicate a November 7, 2007 release, though such projected release dates are notoriously inaccurate prior to official publisher confirmation.

Known for its implementation of the GHOUL rendering system, which allowed for unusually detailed enemy hit models, the original Soldier of Fortune was developed by Raven Software, published by Activision, and released on PC in early 2000. Console ports of the first entry followed in 2001, with the PlayStation 2 version handled by Pipe Dream Interactive and published by Majesco, whereas developer Runecraft paired with publisher Crave Entertainment for the Dreamcast iteration.

Raven Software's 2002 sequel Solider of Fortune II: Double Helix featured an enhanced version of the GHOUL rendering system, codenamed GHOUL 2.0, and initially appeared on both PC, with the 2003 Xbox edition ported by Gratuitous Games. Both were published by Activision.

While nothing is confirmed, it is assumed that a revamped Soldier of Fortune would continue the series' penchant for graphic and realistic violence. Shacknews has contacted Activision for more information.

Wrong engine...
As previously published, it was suggested that SoF: PB would be developed using the Doom3 Engine. These rumors have now been squashed, and it has come to light that Mullins will return in all his blazing glory running a certain "Unreal Engine 3.0" under the hood. Activision has indeed licensed the rights to use the Unreal Engine for Pay Back.

one...two......three?!
Many have speculated that the third game in the Soldier of Fortune series would not be a sequal, these beliefs were based upon the fact that there was no "3" in the confirmed name for Pay Back. We have now just found out that Pay Back WILL be a sequel to the second game in the series: Double Helix! (Ofcourse the name will stay: Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back)

Stay tuned guys 8)

While not exactly a secret -- especially after last week's leak -- today Activision made it official and confirmed Soldier of Fortune Payback (a.k.a. SoF3) as a PC, 360 and PS3 game shipping next month. Conveniently, we also uncovered the first details and high-resolution assets for the game. At first glance, Payback looks to be an up-to-date version of the early-2000 Soldier of Fortune titles -- you play a mercenary "blasting their way through high intensity combat situations in the world's most dangerous hotspots in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe," according to a press sheet.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESanta Monica, CA -- Oct. 9, 2007 – Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today it will release the next generation of the long-awaited Soldier of Fortune game series this November with Soldier of Fortune® Payback. The saga continues with the organization known as “The Shop,” where players take on the role of a hired mercenary blasting through brutal do-or-die battle scenes in the world’s most dangerous criminal and terrorist hotspots.

Soldier of Fortune Payback evolves the signature gameplay of its predecessors with refined controls, tension-packed warzones, and an enemy damage system that may be shocking to even experienced FPS players. Boasting more weapons options than any previous Soldier of Fortune installment, Soldier of Fortune Payback’s impressive arsenal includes an array of more than 30 weapons including sub-machine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, projectile explosives, weapon attachments and cutting-edge tactical weapons.

Soldier of Fortune Payback will satisfy online gamers with many of their favorite online multiplayer modes including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Elimination, Team Elimination, Capture the Flag, and Demolition. Additional online options include maps tuned specifically for multiplayer action, persistent stat-tracking throughout the gamer’s online career, and many server settings for custom online play.

The - storyline reflects today’s trend of “outsourcing” wars. When a routine escort mission goes horribly wrong, freelance mercenary Thomas Mason finds himself battling an insidious enemy that knows no boundaries. Traditional armies can not handle these extremists – only underground guns for hire can fight a war this dirty and get results.

Soldier of Fortune Payback will be available for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and the PC. The game has been rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB and is scheduled for release in November 2007.

About Activision, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $1.5 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Scandinavia, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. In this release they are identified by references to dates after the date of this release and words such as “will,” “will be,” “remains,” “to be,” “plans,” “believes”, “may”, “expects,” “intends,” and similar expressions. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, sales of Activision’s titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, Activision’s ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms (including next-generation hardware), declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Activision’s products, adoption rate and availability of new hardware and related software, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, vendors and third-party developers, international economic and political conditions, integration of recently acquired subsidiaries and identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities, limitations on our ability to issue stock and options and foreign exchange rate changes. Other factors that could cause Activision’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, without limitation, the further implementation, acceptance and effectiveness of the remedial measures recommended or adopted by the special sub-committee of independent directors established in July 2006 to review Activision’s historical stock option granting practices, the board and Activision; the outcome of the SEC’s formal investigation and the derivative litigation filed in July 2006 against certain current and former directors and officers of Activision relating to Activision’s stock option granting practices, the possibility that additional claims and proceedings will be commenced, including additional stockholder litigation, employee litigation, and additional action by the SEC and/or other regulatory agencies, other litigation (unrelated to stock option granting practices),. , and the risks identified in Activision’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and recent reports on Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision as of the date of this release, and Activision assumes no obligations to update any such forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations.