Epic Games and Microsoft officially confirm that Gears of War 3, the final chapter in the popular action trilogy, is set to arrive next spring. They've targeted April 5, 2011 as the official launch date in North America and Asia, while Japanese gamers will get the game on April 7. Europeans are going to see the game on store shelves come April 8 (which also goes for other territories).

“When we released ‘Gears of War’ more than three years ago, we set out to tell the world an unforgettable story of bravery and sacrifice in the face of insurmountable odds, and a year from now, players will get the chance to experience the final chapter in the story of Marcus Fenix and his companions in Delta Squad,” said Cliff Bleszinski, design director at Epic Games. “This is definitely the biggest and most dramatic chapter yet in the ‘Gears of War’ saga, and we can’t wait to deliver it.”

Gears of War 3 is going to be developed exclusively for the Xbox 360 and will hurl players into "a harrowing tale of hope, survival, and brotherhood that will conclude the current story arc for Gears of War." Also, "with the last human city destroyed and the remaining survivors stranded, time is running out for Marcus and his comrades as they fight to save the human race from the jaws of extinction."

Check out the first official trailer for Gears of War 3: