SOCOM 4: It’s Official!

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I wanted to drop in and deliver some truly exciting news – on behalf of everyone here at Zipper Interactive, I’m pleased to announce that SOCOM 4 is indeed in development and is slated for release exclusively on PlayStation 3 this fall.

SOCOM 4 screenshot Explosion

Of course, as with any new announcement, what you really want to know are the details: Who’s in your squad? Where have they been deployed? What kind of threat are they up against? Though we’ll be revealing the answers to all these questions and plenty more throughout 2010, we don’t want to leave you completely in the dark, so what we will tell you is that a militant revolutionary has unexpectedly seized control in an important South Asian country. As the Ops Com, your mission is to command an elite five-man squad charged with stopping his aggressive agenda before it’s too late. In only six days, you must lead your team through a hostile jungle and urban environments against an army of well-armed rebel insurgents that completely outnumber you.

If that setup doesn’t whet your appetite enough, you should also be pleased to know that in addition to the SOCOM’s single-player operation, players will also be able to enjoy a 32-person multiplayer mode that boasts more Special Forces units than ever before!

If you crave even more information, then the guys at IGN have you covered with their exclusive first-look preview at what we’ve shown so far. Editor and shooting game fanatic, Ryan Geddes, dropped by our studio earlier in the week to check out SOCOM 4 for himself, so be sure to read the full IGN article to find out what he thinks.

SOCOM 4 screenshot Team Running

But wait! There’s more! As part of our continued announcement celebration, the folks at GameTrailers TV will air the world premiere trailer for SOCOM 4 tonight at 12:30 am EST/PST. All you have to do is tune in to Spike TV when the time is right and let your eyes and ears do the rest. Don’t miss it!

Oh, and before we let you go, we wanted to send a message to our SOCOM and MAG fans all over the world. First, if you play MAG and wonder what this means for the game’s future, wonder no more – we’re still fully committed to supporting MAG for a long, long time and the addition of another game in our lineup doesn’t change that. Second, it’s been great to hear from SOCOM fanatics located in every corner of the globe as we led into today’s announcement. We’re extremely excited to be attached to this beloved franchise again and knowing that so many people wanted us to return to something that already meant so much to us has been both inspiring and touching – so thank you to all of you who wanted it to happen! We look forward to living up to your expectations.

SOCOM 4 screenshot Team Cover

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663 Comments

27 Author Replies

  • Ok. Two great FPS from Zipper. Cool it will be good fun.

    But Sony no more FPS from any other of your first party developers.

  • offline mp plz

  • This is great news, as a die hard S2 fan, I’m not so sure about the 32 player thing. 8v8 worked great and had that intimate feeling. I think it should be either 8v8 or 12v12 at most. Either way Zipper knows how to make a game.

  • WHO’S ACCOUNT IS THIS, AND WHY DOES IT SAY I AM SIGNED INTO IT ON MY COMPUTER?!

  • Awesome news keep up the good work.

  • Hey Jeremy,

    I run TheRealSOCOM.com blog so I’d like to think I have a pretty good window into the SOCOM community and what made the SOCOM games so great. I know your aim with the next SOCOM is to give it mass market appeal, and I think thats great and actually something the franchise needs.

    My only concern at the moment is if, other than the packaging, is the community that’s been with SOCOM going to recognize the game at all when they play it?

    And I know you can’t say anything about this particular point, but I hope for the sake of your game that there aren’t vehicles online. If your team wants mass-market appeal while also retaining a strong hardcore following, look at games like CoD (which I’m sure you have) which has no vehicles online and is what, like 18 players max?

    32 players is a bit much imo, but I’ll remain optimistic until I get to play it. And I think I speak for most people when I say thank god that its still 3rd-person. There are more than enough FPS games, we didn’t need any more.

    • Our aim is to make a great game — we can\’t really talk specifics about anything yet, but I can tell you that we\’re happy with how it\’s coming along and think will carry over to new folks and diehard players.

  • not so surprising but im definitely looking forward to the return of the true SOCOM franchise

  • Yes! I’ve been waiting for another great SOCOM game ever since SOCOM 3 (Combined Assault was alright). SOCOM isn’t SOCOM without Zipper.

  • Can’t wait to fix my addiction to SOCrack once again after Confrontation turned out to be chalk dust.

    And just for anyone who might be looking. I saw one guy mention it on page one, and I’ll mention it again, LEGEND OF DRAGOON 2.

    IT IS WANTED, IT IS YEARNED FOR, IT. IS. NEEEDDDEEEDDDD.

    PLLLEEEEAAAAASSSSSEEEE

    Whenever there’s an announcement of a big game, tons of people in the faqs I frequent bring up LoD2. Is there any hope at all? I cringe at the thought of being on my deathbed wondering that question…

  • Where’s my Resistance 3?

  • Why am I logged in as WHIFFER2? . . .I don’t even know who this is. . .I’m just logged in as him :S

  • Being SOCOM 4 will have full-fledged multiplayer, what does that mean for SOCOM: Confrontation?

    Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait. I’ve bought every SOCOM game since SOCOM 1, and I’m really looking forward to the singleplayer experience.

  • Definitely looking forward to checking this out. MAG is great, and I have a friend who plays Confrontation all the time, yet I refuse to invest $$$ into that game.

    Hopefully Zipper will position MAG and SOCOM in ways that they will compliment each other. MAG has the big, epic, multi-layered battles with complex command and control. SOCOM would do well to be more of a ‘party’ game with lots of co-op options a bit more straighforward in game play that maybe doesn’t require quite the commitment that a few rounds of MAG Domination does.

    Will be interesting to see how Zipper splits the baby on this. Either way, it’s nice to see SOCOM back in capable hands.

  • ThreeLeggedFreak

    Jeremy thanks for at least addressing it, but co op doesn’t have to be online, offline split screen co op would be much welcome.

  • My nephew will be psyched. For me though, I was wondering if you guys planned on ever doing a non-shooter? Is that something the company would consider or is it more of a stick at what we’re good at mentality? Don’t get me wrong, shooters are fun, but I’m getting kind of burned out from all the shooters appearing this gen.

    • We stick with what we\’re good at and like to make. That doesn\’t mean that we\’d never consider something else… except Mahjong — a Zipper Mahjong game just isn\’t in the cards.

  • @306 the best game, is the game with options. If you don’t want vehicles then create a room and dont allow vehicles, thats what made the last SOCOM(S3/combined assault) so appealing, to the masses

  • WHEN THE LAST TIME A BLOG HAD THIS MANY COMMENTS? When the PSN was down for two days hahaha. You guys have to realize this is HUGE NEWS!!!!

  • Jeremy

    I know this sounds to a lot of people put please take a few pages from MW2 online. In therms of addiction. Leveling, perks, etc is a must at this point

  • @290.

    Wow, you’re lame and full of it. I smell 360 fanbot.

    1) Lagging. Online lag is FAR worse on 360 with it’s 10Mb Ethernet port compared to PS3’s 100Mb ethernet port plus the Cell Broadband Engine (not the Cell Proccessor, two different things) which is just AMAZINGLY fast. Go play Gears and Gears 2 then come and talk about PS3 lag, lol.

    2) Glitches/ LOL, yea, like games on 360 don’t have glitches. What a tool. MW2 has MORE glitches on 360.

    3) no subtitles in movies? LOL, wow, reaching much?

    4 Console sucks/ LOL, if the PS3 sucks, then 360 is one of the worse video game consoles ever made in the history of console game. Which btw it IS when it comes to failure rate, and being made from such cheap hardware that it was the first console in history to be sold at a profit at it’s launch. Every other hardare manufacturer sine the NES has taken a hit on the hardware. MS with it’s 360 is the first to be making profit one the hardware at launch, hence it’s last gen hardware and failure rate.

  • SOCOM is PS2 series, why moving dead series to PS3? You can make a Story Mode for MAG, or announce MAG2, but revive PS2 series its not the best idea.

  • EPIC!!!!

    SOCOM 4 will be a must buy for me, but I’ll still get M.A.G.

  • I LOVE YOU ZIPPER!

    SO-CRACK IS BACK!

  • I hope SOCOM4 its final name? Please dont rename it to some stupid Socom: China Adventure or something like that.

  • OMG THIS IS AMAZING NEWS!!! I was a SOCOM 1 and 2 FANATIC and logged THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of hours online playing.

    To hear that Zipper will be developing this game gives REAL HOPE for the true diehard SOCOM fans (minus confrontation ofcourse) that we will finally get the SOCOM experience that we had ‘back in the day’ on the PS2.

    Thank you Zipper so much

  • LOL nice one

    SO-CRACK IS BACK

  • Looking forward to learning more about this. Lets not repeat /6 ok? Thanks.

  • THANK GOD ZIPPER HAS THIS BACK. Now, I want to see this put Confrontation to shame!

  • I’d like to propose that SONY offer free SOCOM 4 DLC if it is detected that you played SOCOM : Confrontation on your machine. I plunked down $50 bones on a VERY disappointing entry into the SOCOM world and for Zipper to get me and many other back you need to make it worth my while.

    Sorry but that is reality. Why SONY let someone mess with the SOCOM name is beyond me.

  • Omg…

    ***begins to cry tears of joy***

    OMG…

    ***checks calendar date for April 1st***

    OMFG!

    So many questions! Um, how about this one;

    – What sort of voice command recognition enhancements will we gamers get to see?
    – Has there been any improvement in the voice recognition quality?
    – How much of SOCOM 4 online play will mirror SOCOM Confrontation?
    – Are you guys taking any cues from sister developer Slant Six? How about Infinity Ward?
    – Will SOCOM 4 hold onto it’s roots and leave out vehicle play for online?
    – Will gamers be able to customize their online character?
    – Is there anything you learned from MAG that you intend on bringing over to the SOCOM 4 universe?
    – Any plans to utilize the motion controls?
    – Are players going to have to pick a faction limiting their weapon options or will they be more open like the older SOCOMs?

    Okay, I know I said one but I couldn’t help myself.

  • Good to hear XD

  • Before you guys get too involved in this, could you head over to Gearbox and show them how to get the mics to work in Borderlands? I’d consider it a solid.

  • BTW…didn’t read all 327 comments but you DO know that ARC is going to be involved here…right?

  • What engine Socom4 use? Its MAG engine or something different?

  • OMG!!! lol cant wait

  • will it be in first person or have a first person mode, will it have a multiplayer co-op?

  • OMGWTFBBQ!!! SOCOM is back for real! I think I’m lizzing.

  • So, Slant Six has nothing to do with this project, thank God!

  • Please for the love of SOCOM bring back Rat’s Nest from SOCOM 1 and Vigilance from SOCOM 2. Easily the best suppression maps you ever made in my humble opinion.

  • Please NO VEHICLES in online!

  • :( how lame… I was hoping for a New IP or Twisted Metal anything other then Socom 4.

  • you lost me after SOCOM 2, good luck though..

  • Hopefully it doesn’t suck like MAG.

  • THANK YOU !!! MAG wasn’t what many of us wanted but this is AWESOME, and I didn’t buy the current SOCOM because it had terrible ratings. SOCOM has a ruined reputation because of Confrontation so you need to rebuild it, I am sure it will be AWESOME!

  • *sigh* was hoping for Killzone 3 or Resistance 3…. how disappointing.

  • Finally Socom has come back to the hands of Zipper. My biggest thing with games that offer online is the lack of support. With the MAG beta you could report problems in game. That was a awesome feature. That is what online games should have.

    Now my only question is will the new Socom online run off the same architecture as MAG? There is hardly any lag on that game.

  • So will this game have a co-op campaign. I do want a singleplayer experience, but this game type would go well with a co-op campaign, or the option to play the singleplayer campaign co-op with a few people.

    Anyways, I’m really excited for this and will likely pick it up on release day. Can’t wait!

  • Thank you very much! I’e been waiting very long for this. Zipper please make your game, nothing was EVER wrong with Socoms gameplay scheme, it was just lag and framerate issues that brought S3 down. Please do not cange stuff like Slant Six had the nerve to do. We love Overtime rounds and d-pad lean.. AND NOT RUN Button, and our old ranking system. Plz make Socom like Socom and don’t try to make it like these other games.

  • I’m looking at these screens, and, um…well, I’m seeing a bunch of guys in muscle shirts with no helmets or whatever, and they appear to be using another lame cover system that every shooting game today seems to have for some reason.

    Please tell me that I’m wrong. Please tell me that there’s no lame cover system, no stupid health regeneration, soldiers (or sailors) will actually look like soldiers (or sailors), and that the game is still a mil-sim and not another CoD4/Modern Warfare 2 clone. I watched Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon degenerate into arcade shoot-’em’ups, and I’d be so sad to see it happen to SOCOM as well.

    I need some reassurance here!

  • dam!! finally a real socom we’ve been waiting for!!!!!!!!

    how many maps u guys are releasing at release?

    i would want atleast 15 maps!! and old school maps

  • Wow a lot of you people [DELETED] a lot
    actually makes me wanna go play my xbox
    Geez. Be happy for once
    I.M not a fan of socom. But I loved mag
    And. Playing that I’m very excited for this.

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