Release date announced for 'Far Cry 2'

Ubisoft has announced that open world action shooter Far Cry 2 will ship to European retailers on October 24.

GameSpot reports a US-based Ubisoft spokesman as confirming the European on-sale date, which follows the US release on October 21.

This includes PS3, PC and Xbox 360 versions of the sequel to 2004's critically acclaimed first-person shooter Far Cry, which was developed by Crytek.

The Far Cry 2 team have ditched the desert island setting of the first game and relocated to the dusty African plains for some open world guerrilla combat against arms dealers.

Ubisoft also announced that the release will be accompanied by a special edition package that will be exclusive to GAME outlets.

This includes a guide book depicting art used in the title, a documentary DVD and a map tracking the 50 square-kilometre world created for the game.

However, Far Cry 2 will have to compete with Resistance 2, Fallout 3, Dead Space and Call of Duty: World At War in what is turning into a congested fourth quarter for game releases.