'Grid 2' officially announced with debut trailer

Grid 2 officially announced.

Grid 2 will release to PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 next year, Codemasters announced today with a debut trailer.

Just over one minute long, the short trailer offers glimpses of Chicago and Paris, the upcoming title's new game locations. Grid 2 began development two years ago and is built on the latest version of Codemasters Racing's Ego engine.

"Grid's back and we're going to make street, track and road racing exciting again," said executive producer Clive Moody in a prepared statement.

"The core design philosophy for Grid 2 is that we treat the race as a character, not a consequence of simply putting cars on tracks. Everything that goes into the game impacts on that second-to-second, in the moment, blockbuster drama - the feel and personality of the race."

The title will build on the handling model used in its predecessor, with the new TrueFeel Handling System that uses real physics to balance accessibility and simulation.

Grid 2 will also feature the United States, Europe, and Asia, with cities including Paris, Abu Dhabi, and Miami. Licensed circuits, city streets and mountain roads are also promised. In multiplayer, Codemasters will introduce a new progression system that includes customization and integration with its online community portal RaceNet.

Grid originally released in 2008 on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Its sequel was first teased earlier in the week.