Xbox Addict

Gears Of War 3 Releasing April 2011 – Source

Microsoft will launch Gears Of War 3 in early April 2011, a trusted US publishing source has told Edge.

The first teaser trailer for the third person shooter is expected to debut next month on April 8, exactly one year ahead of the game’s pencilled in release date. A full reveal is due at E3 in June.

While it hasn’t been officially announced yet, Gears Of War 3 is currently in development at series creator Epic Games. It will continue the story set out in the first two games, which centres on humankind’s battle for survival against the nightmarish Locust Horde.

Gears Of War debuted on Xbox 360 in 2006 and on PC a year later. A follow up was released for Microsoft’s home console in 2008.

We understand that the game could be completed as early as this year, but that Microsoft is keen to release it during a different window to Halo: Reach - rumoured to be launching in September 2010 - and Natal, which is set to arrive this holiday.

"Microsoft’s keen to avoid a clash with Halo: Reach and wants Natal to own Christmas. That’s why we won’t be seeing Gears Of War 3 until next year, but expect a major marketing push ahead of its release," said our source.

Epic vice president Mark Rein said this week that the developer won’t be releasing a game this year as it has chosen to focus on supporting titles made by customers of its Unreal Engine.

When contacted about this report, Microsoft told us that it "does not comment on rumour and speculation".