In a press release filled with bombastic phrases like 'warfare on a scale never seen' and 'more realistic and intense then ever before', Codemasters officially announces that Operation Flashpoint 2 is in the works for 2008 for the PC and major consoles. In what they call their most extensive R&D project to date, Codemasters Studios has brought together their largest dev team ever to bring the project to life.

Building on the original game's heritage, Operation Flashpoint 2 will see the most realistic modelling of conflict scenarios in a new contemporary theatre of war. By offering a multitude of military disciplines, gameplay will deliver warfare more realistic and intense then ever before, while an extensive multiplayer component will create battles on an incredible scale.

Some pretty big words to usher in the sequel to one of the best tactical shooters of all time. Let's hope they aren't setting themselves up for a fall here. The Operation Flashpoint fan community may be more mature than most, but all that means is the death threats they'll get if they screw it up will be really well-worded and thought out. Michael Fahey

Operation FlashpointTM, the game that invented the conflict simulation genre, to return in 2008.

Promising warfare on a scale never seen in a FPS, the biggest name in modern military simulation gaming will return in 2008 as Codemasters confirms that Operation Flashpoint 2 is in development for PC and major console formats.

Operation Flashpoint 2 will mark the long-awaited return of the total conflict simulator, which won international acclaim. Now in development, it is Codemasters Studios' most extensive R&D project to date. With the studio's largest development team ever assembled, Operation Flashpoint 2 has already benefited from over two years of pre-production on a closed set basis and will use a new FPS variant of Neon technology, the studio's proprietary middleware.

Building on the original game's heritage, Operation Flashpoint 2 will see the most realistic modelling of conflict scenarios in a new contemporary theatre of war. By offering a multitude of military disciplines, gameplay will deliver warfare more realistic and intense then ever before, while an extensive multiplayer component will create battles on an incredible scale.

Set to redefine the genre it created, Operation Flashpoint 2 is coming in 2008. Further details will be announced this summer; gamers can sign up for future development briefings online at: www.codemasters.com/flashpoint2