3DS’ Project X Zone North American release confirmed for summer 2013

Namco Bandai announced today that Project X Zone (a working title pronounced "Project Cross Zone) will be available in North America, Europe, and Australia this summer. The 3DS exclusive title is an part of an ambitious collaboration between Namco Bandai, SEGA, and Capcom.

Developed by Monolith Soft and Banpresto, Project X Zone — described as a strategy-RPG — features playable characters and worlds from 29 iconic game franchises by the three prestigious Japanese game companies. Namco released a few details about Project X Zone's gameplay:

In Project X Zone players will use a team of two characters known as a Pair Unit to explore the world within the game. An additional character known as a Solo Unit can be combined with the Pair Unit to assist in battles with Solo Attacks as well as augment the attacks available for players to execute. Throughout the game, epic battles are waiting to erupt at a moment’s notice. Players will have to master an array of screen-busting moves including Solo Attacks, Support Attacks, Cross Hits, and Finishing Moves in order to defeat a multitude of foes.

Project X Zone takes place in a world surrounded by a hidden chaos with shadows and evil lurking beneath the peaceful cover of everyday life. When a rift in time and space suddenly appears, a doorway to various universes is opened allowing both heroes and villains from different worlds to cross paths.

“Project X Zone is the first title to ever combine such a large cast of characters from a varied list of game franchises into one grand adventure,” said Carlson Choi, Vice President of Marketing NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. “Developing a cohesive game and storyline to encompass all of these great characters and their battle-styles was a huge challenge that has paid off greatly with the creation of a truly unique and groundbreaking gaming experience.”

Confirmed characters include Tekken's Jin and Xiaoyu, Toma and Cyrille from Shining Force EXA, and X and Zero from Mega Man X. Project X Zone will be available in summer 2013 exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS.