Development studios United Front Games and Square Enix London revealed 'Sleeping Dogs' -- formerly known as True Crime: Hong Kong -- "a gritty open-world cop drama set in the vibrant city of Hong Kong" (Ah, and I'll bet the key is in the word, "gritty" right?).

As unveiled by Square Enix today, Sleeping Dogs is going to launch some time during the second half of 2012 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC. Word is that the game allows you to control the character of an undercover cop named Wei Shen, who aims to take out the world's toughest crime organization - the Hong Kong Triads. You'll be hurled into crowded Hong Kong island, and will be able to traverse through its many streets. The game takes players through a story of "loyalty and betrayal where Wei begins to question his own motives as he is sucked in deeper than he could ever imagine."

"From the moment you pick up the controller and experience the blend of driving, close combat and shooting you know you're playing something fresh and a bit special," said Lee Singleton, general manager of Square Enix London Studios. "Sleeping Dogs has one of the best melee combat systems out there - it's super brutal with devastating takedown moves, and when added to UFG's proven heritage in driving games, a first class story and the vibrant backdrop of the Hong Kong underworld we get a fiery recipe with fun written all over it."

"Working on Sleeping Dogs has been such a huge passion for the team at United Front Games and we're really pleased to be working with Square Enix London Studios," said Stephen Van Der Mescht, executive producer at United Front Games. "The extensive experience that both studios have in creating compelling open world gameplay and rich, rewarding combat makes for a perfect partnership. Working together we're ensuring Sleeping Dogs is the most intense and immersive game it can be."

Check out the debut trailer for Sleeping Dogs (once True Crime: Hong Kong):