As the build-up to this week's E3 expo in LA has demonstrated, Eidos Interactive is a publisher determined to regain its former status as one of the industry's most significant players - with or without a certain Lara Croft. A number of new titles and dealings with third-party developers has amply demonstrated this ambition, which is continued today with the announcement of 25 to Life.

25 to Life is an online game for the Xbox and PS2, which will feature team-based gameplay played from a third-person perspective amid a setting most readily likened to Grand Theft Auto. In the game, which is being developed by Avalanche Software, players will battle for domination of a huge city, siding with either the cops or the criminals in so doing. Inevitably, comparisons with Sony's SOCOM are already being made.

These two factions will be pitted against one another across twelve unique maps for up to sixteen players, and each urban locale will be playable in various game modes such as standard deathmatch and capture-the-flag (dubbed 'capture-the-stash' in 25 to Life's street lingo). Both platforms will support the use of USB headsets through which to taunt and instruct other players, and as expected a strong singleplayer portion is also promised.

Not only will the singleplayer experience allow players to cut their teeth before venturing into the wilds of the online modes, but new content will be unlocked through this adventure which can then be taken online. Some form of experience ranking gained both on and offline will also open up customisation features allowing players to add unique 'urban fashions' to their avatar or new weapons for cops.

An authentic metropolitan atmosphere is promised, and highly interactive scenery will be the order of the day alongside plenty of incidental content and a hip-hop soundtrack. Said soundtrack will include music from the likes of DMX and Tupac. Very street, indeed.

We'll bring you more on this as we get it.

By Luke Guttridge

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  1. Mark Sampson Unregistered 4 years ago

    What month is it comming out in? marksampson03@Mac.com
    thanks.

  2. trevor Unregistered 3 years ago

    next week i think

  3. JS Unregistered 3 years ago

    When is it coming out???

  4. mac man Unregistered 3 years ago

    this gamr is a good game.But it is not out where I live, so just make a 25tolife2 and make it come out sooner.

  5. Dont wer bout it Unregistered 3 years ago

    some websites say its out and some say it isnt. There supposedly is also two game covers. I want to know if its the brown one or the blue one.

  6. anon Unregistered 2 years ago

    i hate mexicans

  7. Ar-j Unregistered 2 years ago

    I think you can chose ther if you like you can chose gang or cop

  8. Gang war ar-jay Unregistered 2 years ago

    I think the game has 5 chapter