OK, I have to admit that I still haven't played Crysis. Since my PC can barely play FreeCell, I'm holding out for the rumored console versions. But for those of you who have "been there, done that," here's some good news -- EA and Crytek have announced a new chapter in the series, Crysis Warhead. 

Not quite a true sequel, this "parallel story" to Crysis will put players in the shoes of Sergeant "Psycho" Sykes, an aggressive, bald-headed Nanosuit-wearing character from the original title. The title will feature a fully-developed single-player story, as well as new muliplayer content.

"With Warhead, we are focusing on refining our storytelling and game performance," said Crytek CEO and President, Cevat Yerli, "while also delivering more of the visually stunning graphics and immersive, free-roaming gameplay everyone loved in Crysis."

Warhead will be built on an enhanced and optimized version of CryENGINE 2 technology. That means you'll either be able to dust off that old PC that choked on Crysis, or you'll have to buy twelve gigs of RAM to take advantage of the new engine's new features. Anyone have a capable PC they'd like to send me?

EA AND CRYTEK ANNOUNCE DEVELOPMENT OF CRYSIS WARHEAD

The Next Installment of One of the Highest Rated Games of 2007 Blasts its way onto PCs this Fall

Redwood City, Calif. – June 5, 2008 – Maximum freedom, maximum explosions and maximum Psycho!  Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) and award-winning independent studio Crytek today announced Crysis Warhead® – the parallel story to Crysis, one of the most critically-acclaimed first person shooters and PC games of 2007.  Shipping exclusively for the PC this fall, Crysis Warhead is the first title to be developed at Crytek´s Budapest studio, and is built on a new, enhanced and optimized version of Crytek’s CryENGINE® 2 technology.

“We were very pleased with the reception of Crysis from both gamers and media after our launch last year,” said Cevat Yerli, CEO and President of Crytek.  “That being said, one of the key principles of our studio is to always raise the bar.  With Warhead, we are focusing on refining our storytelling and game performance, while also delivering more of the visually stunning graphics and immersive, free-roaming gameplay everyone loved in Crysis.”

“The best result of a partnership that we can ask for in the EA Partners program is when a world class independent studio like Crytek chooses to continue to work with us,” said David DeMartini, Vice President and Global General Manager, EA Partners.  “Crysis was an amazing game and is going to be a blockbuster franchise.  We could not be more excited to be working with Crytek to launch another hit with Crysis Warhead this year.”

In Crysis Warhead, players will don the Nanosuit of Sergeant Sykes, also known as ‘Psycho’, one of the most memorable characters from Crysis.  More brash and aggressive than his Delta Force squadmate Nomad, players will experience Psycho’s parallel story during the events of the original game, finding that life on the other side of the island is even more intense and explosive than they ever could have imagined.  Luckily, Psycho’s Nanosuit is just as capable and he’s equipped with an even bigger arsenal of fully customizable weapons and new vehicles, giving players access to the tools they need to dominate any situation.  Aside from this new, exciting single player campaign, Crysis Warhead will also feature new multiplayer content.  Stay tuned for more details this summer.