Ubisoft has announced the creation of a new Tom Clancy franchise being developed by Ubisoft's Bucharest studio for next generation consoles and PC.

The first air combat game taking place in Tom Clancy's universe, the brand will launch in 2008.

"Ubisoft has an unrivalled track record of creating and sustaining new brands," said Serge Hascoet, chief creative officer at Ubisoft.

"Our commitment to refreshing our catalogue with regular introduction of new IPs is what keeps gamers coming back for more. With this new brand we're redefining the aerial combat genre and extending the Tom Clancy universe to deliver a compelling new action titles to next-generation gamers."

Set in the near future, the game imagines a world where a private military force has accumulated such power that it attacks the USA.

Thrust into the cockpits of incredibly powerful and technologically advanced jet fighters, gamers will benefit from hi-tech piloting assistance, providing comfort, security and enhanced perception.

As players gain skills and confidence, they will be able to shed the assistance. But before choosing performance
over security, they'll have to weigh the risks carefully.

"We are confident that this new brand will become the new benchmark for flight combat games and will be, like other Tom Clancy based games, an instant online multiplayer hit," says Sebastien Delen, managing director of Ubisoft's Bucharest studio.

"The player will experience all the action and excitement of modern air combat, from intense dog fighting to tactical strikes."