‘Project X Zone’ Release Date: Capcom, Sega, Namco Crossover 3DS RPG [PHOTOS]

After weeks of teasing at an upcoming massive crossover project between several big name Japanese video game companies, Project X Zone has finally been announced. The strategy role playing game (RPG) will be released some time in 2012, and a full trailer is coming by the end of April.

Project X Zone was developed by Banpresto and published by Namco Bandia Games. The game was Namco's idea, and the company then brought Campcom and Sega onboard, according to andriasang.com.

The game was originally teased at at a website where three petri dishes displaying the names of the three involved companies name written one them. When the petri dishes were clicked on the color schemes of popular video game characters involved in Project X Zone were revealed.

The game's website now states that April 17 will be the Grand Open although what this means is left unexplained.

Gameplay will involve characters from a variety of classic video games fighting in pairs. 18 characters from the new game were revealed on April 12. Each will play a major role in the game's story narrative.

From Capcom the game will feature Ryu & Ken Masters (Street Fighter 0), X & Zero (Rockman), Demitri and Dante (Darkstalkers and Devil May Cry), and Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine (Resident Evil)

From SEGA: Ichiro Ogami and Sakura Shinguji (Sakura Wars), Akira Yuki Chen and Pai Chan (Virtua Fighter), Kurt Irving & Riera Maruserisu (Valkyria Chronicles), and Cyrille & Toma and Urara (Shining Force EXA & Space Channel 5)

And from Namco: Sanger Somvold (Super Robot Wars), Jin and Ling Xiaoyu (Tekken)
Kos-Mos and T-elos (Xenosaga), Yuri Lowell & Estellise (Tales of Vesperia), and Kite and Black Rose (.Hack).

For screenshots from the upcoming game go here.

Project X Zone will be in the same vein as Namco X Capcom on the PS2, but with even more variety among characters, but is not a sequel.