THUG2 due this year?

Activision plans to release a sequel to Tony Hawk's Underground (THUG) within the current fiscal year (which runs until March 31st 2005), according to comments made by chairman and CEO Robert Kotick in the publisher's latest financial report.

Although Tony Hawk's Underground 2 didn't appear on the list of games Activision announced earlier this week, Kotick's comments have led to speculation that THUG2 could be a surprise unveiling at next week's E3 trade show. Some surprise...

Commenting on the company's results and looking forward to the next fiscal year, Kotick said: "Our line-up, which is comprised of high-profile entertainment properties and titles created by some of the industry's premier development talent, includes Shrek 2, Spider-Man 2, Doom 3, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, DreamWork's Shark Tale, Call of Duty: Finest Hour, Tony Hawk's Underground 2, Rome Total War, X-Men Legends and Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines."

All of the other titles have previously been announced, and most appeared in Activision's E3 line-up announcement.

Regardless of whether the game is at E3, Kotick's comments imply that THUG2 will be released in time for Christmas. Although the company's fiscal year runs until the end of next March, Tony Hawk games have traditionally been released and done very well for themselves in late autumn/early winter, and we can't recall one shipping in the first three months of the year.

If it does turn up this year, it'll likely follow its predecessor's lead and appear on PS2, Xbox, Cube and GBA.