This just in:

SEGA will publish an all-new Aliens vs. Predator (working title) game in early 2010. The game is currently in development with independent developer Rebellion, creators of the original 1999 Aliens versus Predator (pictured); a legendary title that went on to define an entire generation of multiplayer gaming.

The Aliens vs. Predator videogames are near and dear to my heart. But it's worth noting that it was really Monolith who made the game great with Aliens vs. Predator 2. The were the ones who brought the three distinct sides -- Aliens,Predators,and Colonial Marines -- into one game that played in a completely different way depending on which race you chose. Aliens vs. Predator 2 was to shooters what Starcraft was to real time strategy games. If there's any case to be made for the series "[defining] an entire generation of multiplayer gaming", credit Monolith.

What's more, Rebellion's a bit of an odd duck when it comes to game development. They've been involved in a series of acquisitions, buying some property that's basically dead and then, I guess, sitting on it. I'm not sure what the thinking is behind that. Otherwise, their recent games have been mostly PSP ports and a barely serviceable adaptation of the Rogue Trooper comic books about a blue soldier. They've also got some weird Vietnam horror shooter called Shellshock 2 coming out later this month, to be published by Eidos. I'd never even heard of it until I looked up the company today.

If you consider the other Aliens properties in development, you've got Gearbox doing the Colonial Marines shooter and Obsidian doing an RPG. And now Rebellion reviving the AvP line? Which one of these doesn't belong? That said, good luck, Rebellion. I still get a lot of mileage out of Aliens vs. Predator 2 as a multiplayer LAN game, but if you want to try to top it, more power to you!