SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs 4 in Development for Playstation 3

Less than a year after the release of SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation, the fourth main game in the series is apparently in the works.

The SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs series came to fame on the Playstation 2. The original game became a driving force for the Network Adaptor accessor on that particular video game system. Along with its two sequels and another title, the SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs series was responsible for Sony's venture into the online gameplay realm.

Thanks partly to the success of the SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs games, Sony went on to create the unified online service for the Playstation 3, the Playstation Network. It recently surpassed over 25 million registered users after being expanded to the PSP. Sony also has bigger plans for the Playstation Network as they are expanding their online service to non-gaming devices.

The developer behind the revolutionary SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs games are Zipper Interactive. After releasing several other spin-off titles on the PSP, the first-party studio for Sony moved on to the Playstation 3.

Instead of working on the next mainline sequel to the SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs series, however, Zipper Interactive started work on a brand new intellectual property called MAG. Though different in game, many fans believe that this is the spiritual successor to the SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs series. MAG is slated for a fall release on the Playstation 3.

Despite the move, Sony did not give up on the SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs series. Instead, they handed the development rights to Slant Six Games. The new developer then went on to release SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Tactical Strike and the upcoming SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 for the PSP.

The most notable work for Slant Six Games has to be SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation. The first game of the series on the Playstation 3 was released on October 14, 2008. SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation was heavily criticized at launch due to the rampant glitches and numerous missing features. Even after numerous patches, many remained critical of the first high-definition SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs game on the Playstation 3.

Presumably, Slant Six Games will once again developed SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs 4 as Zipper Interactive still have their handful developing and supporting MAG. After SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation, Slant Six Games has plenty of work to do if the development team wants to win the long-time fans of the series over.

They will have plenty of time to work on the game, however, as SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs 4won't be released until 2010 at the earliest.