Killzone 3 vs. Gears 3 in April 2011?

By Tom Bramwell Published 17 March, 2010

Chunky rumours stare each other down.

Epic Games is preparing Gears of War 3 for release in April 2011 and that's also roughly when Killzone 3 will come out, at least according to a pair of rumours swirling around the internet overnight.

Edge reports that the third instalment in Epic's Xbox 360 shooter series will be unveiled in a trailer on 8th April 2010, and will then receive a fuller reveal at E3 this June ahead of an April 2011 launch.

That's according to a "trusted US publishing source" who claimed that the decision to duck out of the Q4 2010 warzone is down to Microsoft's wish to provide Project Natal and Halo: Reach space to breathe.

Meanwhile, 1UP claims that Edge's April launch for Gears 3 will put the game head to head with Killzone 3, which it says it has heard will be released in the "same timeframe".

Neither Microsoft nor Sony has addressed the rumours, beyond labelling them as such, but earlier this week Epic president Mike Capps noted in an interview that E3 could be "really exciting for fans of Epic".

Gears of War 2 was released in November 2008, while Killzone 2 launched in late February 2009.

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About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (51) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Geordiemp #1 2 years ago

    Stopped being interested in the graphics war.

    Learnt from bordrlands that to keep me interested for more than 10 hours needs different characters who play differently, different guns, different powers....

    Got both previous games, lets hope Killzone adds coop, and Gears3 surprises us with something new .... and not just how many particle effects and bloom lighting points....
    Edited by 3 at 17/03/10 @ 08:44

  • wizlon #2 2 years ago

    Games released in similar time frame shocker! But yeah, I'm down for both of them, loved KZ2 and GoW2 both the same, but for different reasons.

  • Eraser #3 2 years ago

    If Gears of War 3 will simply be a continuation of Gears 2 then I'm happy. At least, as long as they continue to include Horde mode I'm happy. I've never had so much fun in a multiplayer game in years. I must admit that I hate the "real" multiplayer modes in GoW though.

  • Straty88 #4 2 years ago

    Killzone 2 is by far imo the best FPS this generation, the immense scale of war was awesome & the features added for clans & matchmaking gave it a great foundation.

    Hopefully they build on this as for gears of war 3, the second was a nightmare online full of glitchs & exploits. I hope they've learnt there lesson & make a decent story on top

  • Dizzy #5 2 years ago

    Poor KZ3.

  • Bonders99 #6 2 years ago

    Tom, you just lit the blue touch paper again.

  • bumgut #7 2 years ago

    Can wait for that meatcube-based gameplay

  • Raz76 #8 2 years ago

    Cole Train and Sgt. Rico in the same month? Dear lord.

  • Gouki #9 2 years ago

    Just out of curiosity..... didnt certain people mention Gears of war 3 only been on next gen (the console/s after the 360)?

    Guess not :-(
    Edited by 1 at 17/03/10 @ 08:58

  • Douche #10 2 years ago

    If the host advantage wasn't so ridiculous I’d still be playing GoW2 online now. But it is, and I’m not. They must fix this for 3rd.

    Anyways enjoyed the first two, looking forward to the 3rd - even though the story is incredibly retarded .

    'THEY'RE SINKING CITIES WITH A GIANT WORM!.'

    Nae bother

  • altitude2k #11 2 years ago

    I'm hoping to see some CoG vs. Stranded combat on Vectes in Gears 3. Would make a nice break from continually fighting the Locust.

    A Gears prequel where you're fighting against the Indies in the Pendulum War, followed by E-day would also be ace.

  • Ignatius_Cheese #12 2 years ago

    'THEY'RE SINKING CITIES WITH A GIANT WORM!.'

    Indeed they are :D

  • Rich72 #13 2 years ago

    "Killzone 2 is by far imo the best FPS this generation"

    XD

  • Dizzy #14 2 years ago

    "If the host advantage wasn't so ridiculous I’d still be playing GoW2 online now"

    Yeah it is strange that a company like Epic, one of *the* pioneers in online shooters, can't get the netcode right.

  • ArchiRag #15 2 years ago

    @ altitude2k
    agreed, I'd quite like a little more freedom within the game not really sure how they would implement it successfully. On the topic of the next game, not sure if u saw the synopsis for the third book:

    With the Locust Horde apparently destroyed, Jacinto's survivors have begun to rebuild human society on their island stronghold. Raiding pirate gangs take a toll - but it's nothing that Marcus Fenix and the Gears can't handle. Then the terrifying life-forms they thought they'd left behind - the Lambent, creatures even the Locust feared - begin to advance across the planet. Gears and gangs must fight side by side to stop their deadliest enemy yet, falling back on the savage tactics of another bloody siege: Anvil Gate.


    perhaps this is what the next game will be?
    Edited by 1 at 17/03/10 @ 09:21

  • altitude2k #16 2 years ago

    @ ArchiRag:

    No I hadn't seen that - but it was only a matter of time. Nice!

    EDIT: Ordered :)
    Edited by 1 at 17/03/10 @ 09:51

  • menage #17 2 years ago

    They're both dated at this point.

  • LazyNinjaUk #18 2 years ago

    Publishers do this because they believe puting games in direct competition with each other will convince people to buy that console for that game. The only people likely to do that are seasoned gamers, but they will have both consoles anyway so it doesn't matter.

  • patchbox360 #19 2 years ago

    killzone 3 will walk over gears 3 technically - but i might have to repurchase a 360 for my boy Marcus Fenix

  • muscleblade #20 2 years ago

    "killzone 3 will walk over gears 3 technically "

    I think it will be the other way around. We will see.

  • jag10 #21 2 years ago

    "really exciting for fans of Epic".

    interesting....................

  • ParanoidZombie #22 2 years ago

    Since the Resistance franchise lost both its faceoffs against gears (metacritics + sales), KZ looks like a better option indeed. April would be an interesting choice, too: looks like no one wants to match up against modern warfare 3 in october 2011...

  • alan_stealth #23 2 years ago

    killzone was the most over hyped piece of garbage ever.
    I still remember Sony's lie campaign of the cutscenes being ingame graphics.

    in terms of FPS its not even close to impressing as much as Half Life did in its day.
    another tired FPS.

    as for gears, it was ok, its not spectacular, but yeah I'm eager to find out what happens next.

  • GamesConnoisseur #24 2 years ago

    I loved the feeling of playing Gears of War and looking forward to the next one and my instant response to KZ3 news is hope that they will make it more fun to play and with better controller lag.

    That just me, but doesnt change that I will purchase both and play both to the bitter end!

  • zedzee #25 2 years ago

    Why has Killzone 3 been demoted to a fight with GoW3, rather than Halo 7 or whatever the next one will be called?

  • Xerx3s #26 2 years ago

    "killzone 3 will walk over gears 3 technically "

    It may or may not be the best thing since sliced bread in terms of graphics but if it is anything like KZ2, that will be a futile point as it will be a mediocre to rubbish game in almost every other area.

  • darleysam #27 2 years ago

    FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!

    edit: oh my gosh zedzee! You are so right! There are at least a seven hundred and thirty twelve haloes hahahahahaha! That is crazy that there have been so many on every xbox console! They really are exploiting that franchise so much like the other better developers out there aren't doing. That is the funniest sh**t iVE ever read!
    Edited by 1 at 17/03/10 @ 13:07

  • Badassbab #28 2 years ago

    I prefer Gears. Can't stand KZ controls (ruined the game for me) and I can't believe Rico was the main NPC. But why we comparing a TPS against a FPS? I worry for KZ3 framerate as it was v-synched in KZ2 and the frame rate dropped quite a lot during the hectic scenes. That's the problem when your so driving by graphics, you sacrifice player feedback and controller latency for the honour.

    On another note I can't wait for Borderlands 2 as I love upgrading. Oh and also can't wait for a little known game called Halo Reach.....

  • byakuya83 #29 2 years ago

    Never played GoW so won't comment on it.

    Loved Killzone 2, as did EG and a majority of reviewers.

    However, I have to laugh at the negative marks being applied to anyone praising it and the positive marks for those who don't.

    Just goes to show the obvious bias of this website's readership.

    I'm sure both games will be fantastic if you like the series, neither are going to be ground breaking or innovative. They'll simply be a case of more of the same, with slight tweaks. Killzone 2 could expand on the weapons and liven up the level design somewhat but otherwise it was a pretty complete package.

  • ant72 #30 2 years ago

    I really enjoyed the Gears series so far, but found KZ2 completely joyless. Not one enjoyable characters in it. In Gears although generic, they were at least fun. Both games looked great, but one clearly showed the other how to do it, IMHO.

  • ignatiusjreilly #31 2 years ago

    However, I have to laugh at the negative marks being applied to anyone praising it and the positive marks for those who don't. Just goes to show the obvious bias of this website's readership.

    Huh? By my reckoning there is only one person in this thread who praised Killzone and got marked down, and he called it "by far the best FPS of this generation", which is bound to get a few downvotes.

    In fact, there are more GoW fanboy comments being marked down, so seriously, your point makes no sense at all.
    Edited by 1 at 17/03/10 @ 13:48

  • laudy #32 2 years ago

    Is KZ3 going third person?

    Is GoW3 going first person?

    Are they going to be multiplat?

    The answer to all these rhetorical questions is no. Both great games in their own right, imo, so why the "vs."?

  • Marshall2008 #33 2 years ago

    KZ2 was complete pants. I took it back and got a refund the next day.

    Still only 2 good games to justify buying a PS3 for Uncharted 2 and Heavy Rain (that and Bluray Movies). Soon to be 3 with the release of God of War 3 this week. Everything else is just mediocre crap or better looking on other formats.

    Gears 3 will be visually impressive as were 1 and 2. Hope it has gameplay to match.

  • Retro_ #34 2 years ago

    Input lag ruined KZ2 for me, shame as technically, the game was a marvel. tbh, I'm more excited about the prospect of Resistance 3 and some of the newer FPS's appearing 2010/2011.

  • ignatiusjreilly #35 2 years ago

    @djronz

    Fair enough, that's a pretty bad omission, but my point wasn't whether he was right or wrong, but that he was the only person in the entire comments thread who'd been marked down for praising KZ2. Hardly evidence of the mass down-ranking of pro-KZ views by Xbox 360 fans that the other poster was claiming.

    I don't really know why I got involved to be honest anyway, sorry. Both games are bland IMO ;)
    Edited by 1 at 17/03/10 @ 14:29

  • Xerx3s #36 2 years ago

    "Loved Killzone 2, as did EG and a majority of reviewers.

    However, I have to laugh at the negative marks being applied to anyone praising it and the positive marks for those who don't.

    Just goes to show the obvious bias of this website's readership. "

    On the one hand you say that the majority thinks that KZ2 was great, on the other hand you comment on how the majority disagrees. Can't have it both ways. It's not really relevant either.

    If you liked KZ2 then good for you but that doesn't make it a good game. It is full of under preforming and bad elements. I just played a level of XBLa PD and it just beats KZ2 on every level apart from graphics and sound. It's a better game and experience and that game is over a decade old. There have been countless games before and after KZ2 that absolutely wipe the floor with it.

    But yeah, in the end it only matters what every person for himself thinks of the product he buys so more power to the people who find a game that appeals to them in KZ2.

  • Rich72 #37 2 years ago

    Look Laudy, you got marked down.... ahem

  • ignatiusjreilly #38 2 years ago

    @djronz: Yep, that's why I should have stayed out of it. Counting of up or downvotes in a thread like this pointless.

    However the whole industry is guilty of encouraging it, including EG. The headline isn't "Killzone 3 and Gears 3 in April", it's "Killzone 3 vs. Gears 3 in April", because that type of combative language builds hype and page hits.

  • fiery_jackass #39 2 years ago

    Epic: use the extra months to put in actual matchmaking code and save me from my broken-record complaints about my favourite, most visceral online shooter being ruined by crappy netcode and hosts across the globe.

  • darleysam #40 2 years ago

    Let's face it, Epic could have the most advanced, reliable, cutting-edge code running the multiplayer, and the second one player sees another skip around or gets disconnected, or even gets killed unexpectedly, they will be online to shout at the heavens about how sloppy and badly-written the netcode is, and how it literally caused them to vomit sin all over their dog.

    Sin dissolves dogs.

  • Lamb #41 2 years ago

    *Stares*

  • Rodchenko #42 2 years ago

    @Xerx3s

    Trying to argue with an opinion, that someone else's opinion must be wrong somehow doesn't work in my opinion ;)

  • man.the.king #43 2 years ago

    A futuristic FPS on one platform versus an apocalyptic alien TPS on another platform ?

    Yes, only EG could consider that as "versus" anything.

    Me, I like both. So sue me.
    Edited by 2 at 17/03/10 @ 19:52

  • warbo #44 2 years ago

    KZ2 while it looks very nice, the SP campaign was a bit of a letdown, and it feels too clunky. The controls need tightening up for the sequel.

    I look forward to more of both.

  • MeBrains #45 2 years ago

    in the other thread which was deleted, I mentioned that somehow I believe that GoW3 will be multiplat.

    at least it would end the vs. bs. about kz vs gow3.

  • SeesThroughAll #46 2 years ago

    Sequels Sequels Sequels Sequels
    Graphics Graphics Graphics Graphics
    Co...

    You get the idea.

  • fiery_jackass #47 2 years ago

    >darleysam
    GOW2 doesn't attempt to match teams against each other geographically, nor is there an attempt to pick a best host. If you're not in a party of, say, five, you're running a high risk of a game-spoiling connection every time you load a game. I work in IT/networking so I'm not some numb twat who thinks it's easy to do, I just think they should have made the effort to at least try. Instead I've seen perfectly mature questions on the topic on their forums edited by Joe Graf to insult the OP and a na-na-na can't hear you attiitude to the majority of the fuck-ups that they've introduced trying to patch the holes in their game.

    Balls to them

  • TRUTH #48 2 years ago

    KZ2 was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay overrated esp gameplay & I honestly think graphically too!...I only kept this game for the odd match online. By the way I any news on a follow up Demon's Souls ( I heard a rumor DLC might be coming!)

  • Vordred #49 2 years ago

    well considering one is Xbox only and the other is PS3 only, thats not really head to head. as each will buy for their console and those that forked out for both consoles will most likey buy both games aswell

  • Straty88 #50 2 years ago

    @djronz

    Atleast someone read it properly. :)

  • seanthejackal #51 2 years ago

    @TRUTH Killzone 2 wasn't overrated it STILL has brilliant graphics and is one of the best online shooters on PS3 (the best is MAG) if anything Killzone 2 was underrated...i wish it was actually on 360 cause 360 owners missed a very good fps.

  • TRUTH #52 2 years ago

    MAG is just plain shit mate!...You really call this the high of online gaming!

    Killzone 2 - very liner corridor to boxed room in nearly all the game, play the game and you notice all the AI is fixed to prefixed potions, enemy respawn out of view with only up to 9 characters onscreen at once (If That!), you'll notice that all set pieces are events that happen when you reach a certain point (as the explosion of the bridge in the 1st section for example) - other wise that game keeps repeating itself until you reach a point to trigger the set piece, only 5 very similar enemy models - wow!, the vehicles where pathetic, the explosions naff, more people died due to fiddly control lightweight controls rather then fighting the battle, the textures are actually bland in the game, it took almost 4years and 25million(+) to produce this with Sony best developments tools - and yet Far Cry 2, Metro 2033, COD MW 2(some sections) etc etc with less budget and less time still look impressive next to KZ 2.

    Sorry dude KZ 2 was just plain average liner fps. Played it, wasn't impressed!
    Edited by 1 at 18/03/10 @ 18:10