Publisher Square Enix and developer Avalanche Studios have announced Just Cause 3 (via the cover of Game Informer), and as is the norm in these cases the press release is pretty much lacking all detail, but Game Informer will be publishing various features on the game over the next week or weeks.
Anyway, here's a quote from the press release:
"We've been waiting for this moment ever since Just Cause 2 was released, said Christofer Sundberg, founder and Chief Creative Officer at Avalanche Studios. "This is the culmination of a decade's worth of open-world evolution and innovation. In Just Cause 3, we've sent Rico to a beautiful Mediterranean archipelago. He is of course bringing his Grapple and Parachute, both with game-changing upgrades, as well as the brand new Wingsuit. Just Cause 3 truly represents the next generation of chaotic sandbox fun, and we can't wait to show you more next year."
Just Cause 3 will see release on PC, PS4 and Xbox One sometime next year.
Update: Turns out we got a few more details after all, courtesy of a fact sheet:
- Explore a Mediterranean island paradise with complete vertical freedom - skydive, BASE jump and free dive in an open world with virtually zero limits
- Glide through the air and swoop across mountains with your Wingsuit giving a new way to rain death from above
- Use your Grapple and Parachute to scale buildings, hijack vehicles, move quickly or tether objects together for creative new ways to cause Chaos.
- Cause massive chains of destruction in military bases, harbours, prisons, police stations and communications facilities to bring down a dictator
- Arm yourself with a wide range of explosive weaponry from shotguns and missile launchers to tank-busters and air-strikes
- Choose from a huge variety of different vehicles to drive including speedboats, jets, helicopters, turbo-fuelled sports cars and super bikes
- Get adventurous with dozens of challenge missions and collectibles to discover
- Online community features
Sounds like pretty much what you'd expect from Rico, doesn't it?
Avalanche Studios boss Christofer Sundberg also expanded a little on his quote from the press release with a blog entry on the official website, among other things he commented on the leaked images from last week (you know the ones hinting at microtransactions):
"Following last week's rumours and speculation, we also wanted to take the opportunity to address a few misconceptions. Those leaked screenshots were taken from an ancient version of Just Cause 3. Like most games, this one went through an exploratory phase where we looked at different control schemes, different technologies, different business models. Those leaked screenshots show aspects of that process, and in no way reflect the game we are making today.
To be perfectly clear: Just Cause 3 will be available in 2015 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC. It will be distributed as a retail box and digital download. It is not a Free To Play game. It does not feature in-game micro transactions."
Sundberg went on to underline they will likely look into DLC packs and the ambition is to support Just Cause 3 for many years to come.