Def Jam To Make Iconic Debut On Next-Gen News

Following the signing of a multi-year in mid-August, Electronic Arts and Def Jam has today confirmed the development of Def Jam Icon for Xbox 360 and PlayStation3.

Expected to be released during March 2007, Def Jam Icon features a number of hip-hop names including Ludacris, Big Boi, and T.I., whilst "...Music will effect how players fight in each venue and environmental interactions and hazards will become a key strategy to staying alive." What that means in terms of gameplay remains in the shadows for now.

"Music is the cornerstone of hip-hop culture so we wanted to incorporate music and rhythm into the actual gameplay mechanics," said Kudo Tsunoda, executive producer and General Manager of EA Chicago. "In DEF JAM: ICON, we are changing the way fighting games are played! We are completely innovating the role of the environments in the games, moving from the typical lifeless arenas the hip-hop celebrities are fighting in to environments that play an instrumental part in the fight where they will react to the music and interact with both characters like a third fighter."

"Music is the cornerstone of hip-hop culture so we wanted to incorporate music and rhythm into the actual gameplay mechanics," said Kudo Tsunoda, executive producer and General Manager of EA Chicago. "In DEF JAM: ICON, we are changing the way fighting games are played! We are completely innovating the role of the environments in the games, moving from the typical lifeless arenas the hip-hop celebrities are fighting in to environments that play an instrumental part in the fight where they will react to the music and interact with both characters like a third fighter."

Icon will be the third Def Jam title to be released, following the likes of Vendetta in 2003, and Fight for New York in 2004. A PSP version of Fight for New York, The Takeover, is also in development.

We'll have more news shortly...