Star Wars 1313 was officially unveiled by LucasArts on June 1 after a leaked version was found online on Thursday. The game will make its formal debut at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles next week.

Star Wars 1313 will allow gamers to play as a bounty hunter in a never-before-seen dark and mature world, according to a press release from the company. Described as a third-person cinematic action adventure game, the new release will enlist talent from the Lucasfilm organization such as LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, Lucasfilm Animation Ltd. And Skywalker Sound.

The game takes its name from Level 1313, a criminal underground below the surface of the planet Coruscant. The main character, a deadly bounty hunter, utilizes an arsenal of toxic weaponry as he hunts town his targets and attempts shed light on a criminal conspiracy. 'Star Wars 1313' will feature a different twist than previous titles. Fans can expect less of the supernatural Force powers that have defined the franchise thus far, and more fast-paced combat using skills and gadgets.

We're excited to share one of the projects LucasArts has been hard at work developing, said Paul Meegan, President of LucasArts in the press release. Star Wars 1313 dives into a part of the Star Wars mythos that we've always known existed, but never had a chance to visit. We are committed to bringing the best gameplay experience and visual fidelity to life and I truly believe the work we are showcasing at E3 will speak for itself.

The emphasis certainly seems to be on the mature angle with this new title. Star Wars 1313 will be rated 18+, in an attempt to lure older players. Previous Star Wars gaming titles include a mix of shooters, role-playing games, and LEGO adventures. But it seems that LucasArts is looking to make some heavy impact with its next venture.

In addition to enticing Star Wars fans, LucasArts could be in the midst of a shift in style with this new game, possibly in an effort to take on highly anticipated titles such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 and Halo 4. By integrating a more advanced level of combat into the Star Wars saga, it could prove to be a heavy competitor. Nothing about a release date has been said yet, but it is possible that the announcement will come at E3. If Star Wars 1313 launches around the holiday season, it will likely be up against heavy titles previously mentioned and the upcoming Assassin's Creed 3.

From what is known so far, it seems as if the game will combine some elements from these titles with a Star Wars style. Fans will find the space-adventure elements of Halo 4, the heavy weaponry of Call of Duty and the stealth-based missions of Assassin's Creed in Star Wars 1313. Let's not forget the cinematic aspect as well, which should prove for an interesting mix of plot focus and action.

This mature approach could be a genius move by LucasArts, but until more details are unveiled it will be difficult to say.

Los Angeles Software Los Angeles