Following our exclusive story from Wednesday, SEGA has stepped up to confirm both the existence of an OutRun2 console port (notice the re-worked title) as well as the fact that the game will debut at E3 early next month.
An Xbox exclusive (and not to make an appearance on PS2, as we suggested) the game is due to appear on the SEGA stand, Room 151, Concourse Hall, and the Xbox booth number 1246, South Hall, Los Angeles Convention Centre. It will be in playable form, with a two to four-player networked link-up mode also on offer.
Developed by Sheffield-based UK developer Sumo Digital, the Xbox conversion will, as we mentioned before, feature a faithful port of the AM2-developed arcade game, and will also benefit from a host of enhanced features. Mentioned so far is the inclusion of Xbox Live support, an extensive single-player mission mode and an assortment of unlockable elements.
SEGA Europe's European Marketing Director Matthew Woodley had this to say: "OutRun2 is one of our most exciting games this year, and after months of speculation, we're delighted to be able to announce its development for Xbox. OutRun is an all-time classic, and OutRun2 is perfectly positioned to build on this legacy and capture a big share of the racing game market. The title delivers a unique driving experience, which we are confident gamers will find hard to resist. The game is looking amazing on Xbox and we're extremely proud to be able to showcase it at this year's E3."
Obviously, we'll bring you further details as they emerge, and we'll push through the crowds at E3 to get a hands-on impression and tell you what we think.