A few days ago, it was rumored that Sony could be closing SOCOM developer Zipper Interactive. Sadly, it now appears the reports were true.

In response to the rumors, Sony released the following statement:

Read more: Support will continue for Zipper's games »

Sony Computer Entertainment has laid off an unconfirmed number of employees from Zipper Interactive, reports Kotaku. The studio is behind PS3-exclusives like MAG and the recent SOCOM 4. Unnamed sources suggest that 33 people were let go in all. Read more »

If you buy a new copy of SOCOM 4, you'll get access to what Zipper Interactive is calling "SOCOM Pro," the company announced today. Pro access means you're part of a club with regular content updates from Zipper Interactive.

This club includes "Pro" custom game queues on launch day and throughout the game's lifespan, and two exclusive weapons (the M-16 and AK-47) within the first 30 days of release. The team at Zipper also promises other forthcoming freebies like exclusive multiplayer maps, co-op additions, and dedicated leaderboards. Read more »

Sony is encouraging purchases of SOCOM 4 with the promise of early access to the beta of another anticipated PlayStation 3-exclusive shooter, Resistance 3. The PlayStation Blog announced that if a SOCOM 4 box bears a Resistance 3 sticker, a voucher code is included. The blog didn't indicate what percentage of SOCOM 4 boxes will include the voucher.

Vouchers are also included in all Full Deployment Editions of SOCOM 4, which includes the Move controller, sub-controller, PlayStation Eye, and the Move sharp shooter. Throwing the voucher in as well makes sense, considering it's $149.99. Read more »

SOCOM 4 developer Zipper Interactive has revealed the PlayStation 3-exclusive shooter's multiplayer beta schedule, a multi-step program that will see it rolled out gradually to ever-larger groups from March 15.

Initially, it'll be private for select "eligible players," who'll soon be contacted if they're one of the lucky ones. On March 22, PlayStation Plus subscribers get in. Come March 29, it'll open to everyone with a code from Killzone 3. Finally, on April 5, it'll become an open beta, freely available to everyone on the PlayStation Network. Read more »

Zipper has given SOCOM 4 a solid release date on the PlayStation Blog. The game is set for April 19, after being pushed into the nebulous "2011" time frame.

The developer also teased a GameStop exclusive pre-order bonus, the "Abandoned" map. Veterans of the series may get a tinge of nostalgia at hearing the name, as it was a map from SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals for the PlayStation 2. Read more »

Those picking up "specially marked" copies of Guerrilla's upcoming Helghast-blast, Killzone 3, will receive a code that grants access to the upcoming SOCOM 4 multiplayer beta, the PlayStation Blog revealed.

Read more »

The PlayStation 3-exclusive tactical shooter SOCOM 4 has been delayed from this fall until some time in 2011, developer Zipper Interactive has confirmed on its blog.

"While we're certainly aware that you've been looking forward to playing SOCOM 4 this year, we don't want to take any shortcuts," senior community manager Jeremy Dunham explained. "Instead, we want to deliver the best and most immersive SOCOM game we possibly can and we're going to use our extra time to do just that." Read more »

Developer Zipper Interactive has revealed the main character of its third-person shooter SOCOM 4. Meet Cullen Gray, the Operations Commander (Ops Com).

A full bio has been posted, detailing Gray's fictional life and path to NATO's International Security Force (ISF). Here's an excerpt: Read more »

At GDC 2010, Sony formally introduced its motion controller, aptly titled: PlayStation Move. For those that haven't been following its development and unveiling at E3 2009, the technology pairs a camera (the already available PlayStation Eye) and a wand with a colored orb at the top.

Garnett Lee and I went hands-on with two pre-alpha titles here at GDC: SOCOM 4 and Sports Champions. Read more »

Sony's upcoming wand-shaped PlayStation 3 motion controller, previously know as the "PlayStation Motion Controller," is now officially titled the "PlayStation Move."

The announcement came during Sony's Game Developers Conference event today, with the company also demonstrating various games.

The PlayStation Move will be available in various forms, including a "starter kit" that includes the device, the required PlayStation Eye camera, and a game. Exact pricing wasn't disclosed, though Sony hopes the "starter kit" will be under $100. Read more »

Fresh off yesterday's revelation that series creator Zipper is returning to the military shooter franchise with SOCOM 4, publisher Sony has issued a pair of videos.

The first teaser is just that, offering stylized snippets of footage:

Now that the online-only, 256-player FPS MAG has been released, developer Zipper Interactive is ready to develop its next title. Thankfully, we don't have to wait very long to find out what it is and when we'll be playing the game.

In a post on the PlayStation.Blog, Zipper community maanager Jeremy Dunhamn announced SOCOM 4, set for release this fall exclusively on the PlayStation 3. Read more »