The lid has now officially been lifted on highly anticipated RPG sequel Mass Effect 2, with a release confirmed in early 2010 on Xbox 360 and PC – though not, it seems, on PS3.

The game is a sequel to the Microsoft-only RPG original, which became a critical and commercial darling upon its release in 2007. The new game, as with the first, is being developed by EA-owned BioWare, the same studio responsible for the popular Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

“We're going to surpass the extraordinary gaming experience we brought our fans in Mass Effect by delivering intensified combat and expanded weapon options as well as increased depth of planet exploration, all while delivering a powerful, emotionally engaging story,” BioWare’s general manager and CEO and EA’s general manager and VP Dr. Ray Muzyka stated.

“Mass Effect 2 is shaping up to be an unforgettable RPG-shooter experience, taking players on a non-stop roller-coaster ride filled with stunning plot twists and no-holds-barred action.”

In much the same way that Capcom has not announced a PS3 release for Lost Planet 2, but also not denied it, EA is playing it coy about the possibility of a PS3 release in the future.