Sega publishing Gearbox’s long-awaited game sequel to landmark sci-fi film early next year for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360; first trailer inside.

Sega and Gearbox have at last announced a release date for their long-awaited game sequel to James Cameron’s classic sci-fi film Aliens. This morning, the publisher and developer revealed that Aliens: Colonial Marines will ship for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in spring 2012. (A previously revealed DS edition of the game was not mentioned.) Also, no rating information for the title was available, but given the gory subject matter, an M for Mature label is likely.

Aliens: Colonial Marines’ story will pick up shortly after the events of Aliens. Players will join a squad of the titular space soldiers who board the USS Sulaco, the spaceship the film, after it is apparently abandoned. From there the action will spread to the surface of the planet LV-426 and its main settlement, Hadley’s Hope. The first-person shooter will also feature environments and weapons inspired by the film.