True Crime Hong Kong's new name is 'Sleeping Dogs'

Square Enix London Studios have today announced that Activision's previously cancelled 'True Crime Hong Kong' has now been renamed 'Sleeping Dogs' and will be available in the second half of 2012 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows PCs.

Activision first cancelled the development of True Crimes Hong Kong when they decided to concentrate on the development of the Call of Duty franchise. But it was then later obtained by Square Enix London Studios after the team "fell in love with the game and instantly recognised the huge potential in the game and the team"

Developed by the original developers (United Front Games) and in collaboration Square Enix London Studios, Sleeping Dogs catapults players into the role of undercover cop Wei Shen, tasked with taking down one of the world’s most fearsome criminal organisations from the inside... the Hong Kong Triads. As players explore the bustling and crowded Hong Kong island, through its neon-lit side streets and sprawling street markets, a story unfolds of loyalty and betrayal, where Wei begins to question his own motives as he is sucked in deeper than he could ever imagine.

“From the moment you pick up the controller and experience the blend of driving, close combat and shooting you know you’re playing something fresh and a bit special,” said Lee Singleton, General Manager of Square Enix London Studios. “Sleeping Dogs has one of the best melee combat systems out there – it’s super brutal with devastating takedown moves, and when added to UFG’s proven heritage in driving games, a first class story and the vibrant backdrop of the Hong Kong underworld we get a fiery recipe with fun written all over it.”

Offering players an island packed with action, every street corner, market stall, harbour dock or city skyscraper can become an opportunity for intense shoot-outs, adrenaline-fuelled street races and intense, brutal martial arts combat. Featuring one of the most intuitive and imaginative combat systems, Sleeping Dogs empowers players to perform an extensive set of martial arts moves, singlehandedly taking on numerous opponents. Players perform bone-crunching kicks and combos, vicious counters and a cinematic set of environmental takedowns making use of countless real-world items from circular saws to phone booths, incinerators to refrigerator doors.