Xbox, a unit of Microsoft, has officially announced 'Wolfenstein 3', a new entry in the popular first-person shooter series. Confirmation of a new mainline instalment comes about nine years after the 2017 release of 'Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus', drawing strong interest from fans.

The Verge reported on Thursday that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma (아샤 샤르마) said on X that 'Wolfenstein 3' is in development. The announcement coincided with an event marking the 25th anniversary of Xbox's launch.

Sharma called 'Wolfenstein' one of the important franchises in video game history. She also said developer Machinegames delivered outstanding results in advancing the series. She said more information would be released in the future.

A photo released with the announcement included part of the new game's script. The first page showed an interrogation room scene featuring protagonist BJ Blazkowicz along with Otto and Fergus. The scene alone makes it difficult to determine the full plot or the period setting.

Machinegames also confirmed it is making the new title and released photos from a motion-capture session. It also made official the return of voice actors Brian Bloom and Debra Wilson, who appeared in the series.

Bloom will again voice protagonist William Joseph BJ Blazkowicz, and Wilson will again play resistance leader Grace Walker. Both actors also appeared in the released motion-capture photos.

'Wolfenstein' is an FPS series set in an alternate history in which Nazi Germany won World War Two. In the 2017 game 'The New Colossus', BJ Blazkowicz fights against Nazis in the United States in the 1960s.

In 2019, a cooperative-play spinoff titled 'Wolfenstein: Youngblood', featuring the protagonist's twin daughters, was released.

A specific release date, supported platforms and gameplay footage for 'Wolfenstein 3' have not yet been disclosed. With the return of key voice actors confirmed, attention is focused on how the new game will continue the existing narrative.