Prey 2 formally announced for 2012

The original Prey

We'd heard little of Prey 2 since it was confirmed back in May 2008, until today's announcement from publisher Bethesda Softworks that it'll be released for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2012.

Creator Human Head Studios is developing the sequel to its gravity-flipping, mind-boggling shooter upon an unspecified version of the id Tech engine. One can only hope that it'll be the Rage-powering id Tech 5, giving us gruesome and disturbing organic architecture rendered in greater detail than ever. The original Prey used id Tech 4, the Doom 3

"We are thrilled to be working with Bethesda on Prey 2," project lead Chris Rhinehart said in today's announcement. "Prey 2 will provide gamers the opportunity to explore a new facet of the Prey universe, one that offers fast-paced action in an open, alien world. We're excited to show gamers the title we have been working on and hope they will be as excited by this title as we are."

Bethesda and id's parent company ZeniMax Media acquired the rights to Prey in 2009.

More details are due in the May issues of Official Xbox Magazine and PlayStation: The Official Magazine.

Back in 2008, Prey 2 was said to see star Tommy framed for the disappearance of his family and girlfriend ("aliens did it" presumably being a poor excuse), escaping "an Earth that no longer wants him for a future that cannot survive without him." A lot can change in three years, though.