The toys are back in town this summer for their third cinematic outing and today Disney Interactive Studios have officially announced that a tie-in game is in the works as well.

Toy Story 3 is due out in cinema this summer and as with many big film franchises a tie-in game is in the works. Officially announced today Toy Story 3: The Video Game promises players an "open-world sandbox-style of play" and promises to "bring fans into the toys’ world to create their own unique story." The Toy Box mode has been described as a "virtual box full of toys" and seems to be the biggest aspect behind the upcoming game.

Avalanche Studios are working closely with Pixar to ensure the game really captures the spirit of the Toy Story series and the film's director Lee Unkrich has recently tweeted that he is amazed by the game's progress. “Toy Story 3: The Video Game addresses a fact understood by every kid: imagination is what truly brings toys to life,” said John Blackburn, vice president and general manager of Avalanche Software. “That’s really what a toy box is about. We remember that kind of play from our own childhood, and it’s where we began as game designers. With this title, we want to encourage and reward creativity in others.”

The game promises to allow players to dive into Andy's toy box and create their own stories using his toys, and presumably the new ones to be introduced in the upcoming film. The game will also feature a story mode that will reflect that of the film.

“With Toy Story 3: The Video Game, audiences will have multiple ways to experience and enjoy the Toy Story world,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “Story Mode follows the film’s story and adventures, while Toy Box Mode gets to the playful heart of the Toy Story franchise. By combining the power of imagination with the Toy Story universe, the game appeals to the joy of play in all of us.”

Toy Story 3: The Video Game will be released on the Nintendo Wii, DS and other consoles later this year. The game is due out in America on the 15th of June, a few days before the film's release. It will presumably be released in Europe sometime in late July when the film is released but we shall keep you updated.