Copies of Battlefield 2: Modern Combat for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox have stormed retailers across the country, Electronic Arts announced today.

　　The first game in the popular PC shooter series to make its way to consoles, Modern Combat supports online multiplayer games for up to 24 players simultaneously. There's also a full single-player campaign that makes use of the game's "hotswapping" feature, which lets players instantaneously take control of different characters in battle.

　　Playing alone or online, players will have access to an arsenal of more than 50 modern-day weapons and will be able to get behind the wheel of more than 30 different vehicles including helicopters. Players can enlist with one of four major factions, including the US, the European Union, China, and the fictitious Middle Eastern Coalition, which originally appeared in this year's similarly titled PC shooter Battlefield 2.

　　The game's Swedish-based developer, Digital Illusions, is best known for its work on the Battlefield series, though its portfolio of games extends far beyond the world of virtual military combat. The company has previously worked on Rallisport Challenge, Blast Lacrosse, and a number of children's games, such as Secret Agent Barbie and Diva Starz.

　　Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is rated T for Teen and retails for $49.99. Check back later this week for GameSpot's review of the final product.