Microsoft has released new information on Quantum Redshift, its upcoming Xbox racing game that is currently in development at Curly Monsters in Birkenhead, UK. The developer, which previously worked on the PlayStation racer N-Gen Racing, is working on getting the game ready for this year's E3.

　　Vehicles can be used on any terrain type, but each driver's vehicle is specifically designed to excel on his or her home circuit. Acquiring trophies at various speed levels unlocks special characters, new speed levels, and new tracks. Each vehicle features its own holographic weapons technology, ranging from plasma bolts and tidal waves to nuclear weapons. There are a total of 160 different weapons in the game.

　　There will be 16 tracks spread across eight different locations. Players will have to speed through forests, across turbulent water, and over massive jumps. The futuristic racing circuits include: Silver Rock Canyon, a former national park in New Mexico; Kalau Wastelands, a former nuclear test site in Siberia; Fuusoku City, a newly developed metropolis in Japan; Solar City, a cosmopolitan city sometimes referred to as "Hong Kong Down Under;" Brackenstowe Vale, a track for water specialists that is located in the glorious Lake District; and Draco Island, which is located in the Pacific Ocean and boasts an active volcano.

　　Quantum Redshift lets players choose one of 16 characters, including Tara Vivas, a former red-hot teen pop sensation; Prince Yuri Galitz, a wealthy Russian who claims to be the last of the Romanov line; Kumiko Nikaido, the daughter of one of the greatest racers of all time; and Zaki Shaheen, a skilled racer who believes he owes his success to Osiris, the ancient Egyptian god of the dead. Each of the 16 drivers has his or her own unique ship, home circuit, and weapons. Storylines that focus on individual rivalries will be developed in the game's cutscenes.

　　The game features Dolby 5.1 support, an interactive soundtrack composed by Junkie XL, and support for the widescreen television format. Quantum Redshift will also have a four-player split-screen mode.

　　Quantum Redshift is currently scheduled for a release in Q4 2002.