Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City formally announced

Backing up the relayed reports of a new, co-op Resident Evil game revealed last week in a leaked new issue of Official Xbox Magazine, Capcom formally announced Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City bright and early this Monday morning.

The official announcement reveals that SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation developer Slant Six Games' shooter will also be released on PC. Only Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions were mentioned in the leak.

Operation Raccoon City presents a "reinterpretation" of the events in Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis as a third-person, team-based shooter with support for four-player co-op.

Playing as Umbrella Security Services soldiers, up to four players are tasked with purging evidence of the corporation's wrong-doings. As well as fighting through the undead and monstrosities created by Umbrella, the USS will face US Special Ops forces attempting to salvage the evidence. Naturally, violence will ensue.

Capcom teases "the return of original Resident Evil enemies, iconic landmarks such as the Raccoon City Police Department and fan favourite characters, including Leon S. Kennedy, who as a rookie police officer in Raccoon City is on your hit list to eliminate."

"A number of competitive online multiplayer modes" are also promised, which Capcom says "will provide a unique gaming experience thanks to the three way combat between the Umbrella Security Service, US Special Ops and threat of zombies and [bio-organic weapons]."

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is due to be released on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this winter.