North American publisher Akysys Games has revealed that a third volume in the cult Zero Escape series is in development.

It is the next entry in the series following 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors on Nintendo DS, and Virtue's Last Reward on Nintendo 3DS.

The format of the game is part visual novel, part puzzle adventure. The series puts you at the centre of a mystery and surrounds you with enigmatic characters. Gameplay sees you making important story decisions, and occasionally challenges you escape from rooms in familiar adventure game fashion.

Rising Star Games has historically worked with Aksys to bring the games to Europe, so fingers crossed we should get it alongside the Americans in the summer of 2016.

The game is being developed for 3DS and Vita, and the announcement was accompanied by an eccentric press release:

Many government organizations have dismissed our urgent warnings regarding the upcoming game event called Zero Time Dilemma. Recent intelligence has escalated our plans and we have come to the decision to contact gamers about the dangers directly. Our ultimate goal has always been to protect the public from the horrific consequences we have foreseen, but it appears our mission to prevent it from occurring may have failed. It is imperative that you make every effort to prepare yourselves for the oncoming deadly game, so that you may survive the coming apocalypse.

An antidote for the game is predicted to be created, but much further down this timeline, and as such there is no defense from its effects. It will be most easily identifiable on Nintendo 3DS™ and PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, though it is transmittable through the air so the spread may increase even more rapidly through the PlayStation®Store and Nintendo eShop.
Do not be tempted by familiar faces, fully voiced cinematics, multiple endings, or voices in both Japanese and English, as those are signs that the apocalypse is nigh. We suggest that you put extensive effort into improving your puzzle solving skills, as they will be vital to your survival.

We at Crash Keys beg for your assistance in notifying everyone you can so that no one is left in the dark about this dangerous game. The world will end up in a tumultuous uproar, and ultimate consequences will be unavoidable unless word gets out. Use all the time available to you before the summer of next year to contact your loved ones and prepare; our intelligence hasn't been able to focus in on an exact date at this time. Do not fear – we are here to protect you and prepare you to our utmost ability so that you may survive. You will survive. We will use all channels available to contact you with updates as soon as we uncover them. You must be ready.