E3 2013: Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare Announced, Watch the First Trailer and Gameplay Footage

*Updated with official press release* Plants vs. Zombies 2 will be available next month and a Facebook-exclusive game was recently released. That's why EA and PopCap surprised everyone with the announcement of Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, a third-person shooter in the PvZ universe.

This multiplayer game features multiple character classes, multiple game modes, and will be available for the Xbox One and Xbox 360. Check out the video below for the first gameplay footage and teaser trailer, and expect more details and more content later this week. *Updated with official press release:

PopCap Games, a worldwide leader in mobile and social games and a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA), today introduced Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare exclusively first on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the Xbox 360^® videogame and entertainment system. Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare is a stunning new game originated from the famed PvZ franchise that faithfully pays homage to the action genre while retaining the signature quirky humor, depth and accessibility fans expect from a PvZ game. Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare will launch in spring 2014.

"The Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare team has worked tirelessly to bring fans a totally engaging action game,” said Brian Lindley, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare Producer at PopCap. “We have worked hard to combine the best of Plants vs. Zombies and action gameplay to create a whole new experience."

Powered by the advanced Frostbite™ 3 engine, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare delivers an explosive new action experience in a massive, three-dimensional world blooming with color and combat. Featuring 4-player co-op, 24-player competitive modes and more, players will blast zombies, plants and new characters across a richly animated, mine-blowing PvZ landscape.

“Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare takes the PvZ experience to amazing new gameplay territory while retaining the core characteristics beloved by legions of fans,” said Jon David, Plants vs. Zombies Executive Producer at PopCap. “This is a massive year for PvZ with the recent release of Plants vs. Zombies Adventures, the mid-July arrival of Plants vs. Zombies 2 and now with Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfarefor next-generation platforms and PC."

Highlighted Features in Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare Include:

• Powerful new plants and zombies with a wide variety of abilities
• Choose your side, plants or zombies, in 24-player battle mode
• Join forces with friends in 4-player online cooperative mode
• Personalize your favorite plants and zombies with hundreds of unique items and customizations
• Features over 10 unique multiplayer and cooperative battlegrounds

Here are links to our recent Plants vs. Zombies coverage:

• Plants vs. Zombies 2
• Plants vs. Zombies Adventures