Codemasters today announces the development of Maelstrom, a groundbreaking strategy action epic, coming Q3 2006 exclusively for PC. Maelstrom is the result of a unique collaboration between Codemasters and the award-winning Russian development team KDV games (previously known as K-D LAB).

From an original concept by Codemasters, KDV will lead the design and development of Maelstrom. KDV's past credits include Perimeter, the innovative RTS, released to critical acclaim in 2004 when it received a PC Gamer Game of the Month award and also picked up "Best PC Game," "Best Game Design" and "Best Technology" awards at KRI Russian Game Developers Conference.

Now, building on KDV's engine and innovative gameplay mechanics, Maelstrom is set to win over PC gamers with its contemporary sci-fi theme and action packed tactical gameplay, which includes upgradeable transforming units and weapons of maelstromic destruction.

Maelstrom takes place on a devastated future Earth where, in the wake of an apocalyptic ecological disaster, the planet is threatened by an alien invasion. In this savaged world, water has become the most valuable of resources and divided the remaining humans into two factions. Now, they must wage war against the invaders and each other in a desperate struggle for supremacy and survival.