Later this year, Sony plans to introduce stereoscopic 3D functionality to all PlayStation 3s through a firmware update, seen most prominently in Ubisoft's critically panned, but commercially successful, Avatar. Today, the publisher said that one of its biggest first-party franchises will be among the first to make use of that new depth-of-field technology, as Sony announced Guerrilla Games' Killzone 3 will run in full 3D.

　　Killzone 3 adds a new dimension to the Helghan threat. Along with announcing the 3D functionality, Sony's official PlayStation Blog offered a handful of details on what gamers can expect from Killzone 3, which will serve as a direct sequel to 2009's critically lauded Killzone 2. In last year's title, the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance took the fight to the Helghan homeworld, where they achieved a measure of success against the Nazi-esque civilization that invaded Earth in the 2004 original.

　　As detailed by Guerrilla Games managing director Hermen Hulst, the Amsterdam-based studio will be fleshing out the Helghan homeworld with "more enemy types, massive environments, and a broader vision of the planet Helghan and its many terrains." The broadened environments, Hulst noted, were to address gamers' issues with the corridor feel of Killzone 2.

　　Hulst also detailed a couple of new features that will be introduced into the series. Much like Bungie's Halo: Reach, Killzone 3 will introduce jetpack gameplay to the sci-fi shooter series. With the jetpack, gamers gain the ability to thrust skyward for a limited period of time, affording them access to heretofore unreachable locations and opening up the possibility of aerial gunfights. Additionally, the game will include a new "brutal melee" attack, which factors into close-range combat.

　　Sony has not yet announced a release window for Killzone 3.