The game formerly known as True Crime: Hong Kong has been reborn as Sleeping Dogs, as Activisions old Grand Theft Auto-esque sandbox series is brought back to life under a different brand courtesy of Square Enix:

Square Enix London Studios is proud to announce the upcoming release of Sleeping Dogs, a gritty and visceral open-world cop drama set in the vibrant city of Hong Kong.

Developed by United Front Games, Sleeping Dogs catapults players into the role of undercover cop Wei Shen. His mission: taking down the Hong Kong Triad from the inside.

As players explore the bustling and crowded island of Hong Kong, through its neon-lit side streets and sprawling street markets, an incredible story unfolds of loyalty and betrayal, where Wei begins to question his own motives as he is sucked in deeper than he could ever imagine.

Every street corner, market stall, harbor dock or city skyscraper can become an opportunity for intense shoot-outs, adrenaline-fuelled street races and intense, brutal martial arts combat.

Featuring an intuitive and imaginative combat system, Sleeping Dogs empowers players to take on whole gangs with bone-crunching kicks and combos, vicious counters and a cinematic set of environmental takedowns using improvised weapons from circular saws to phone booths, incinerators to refrigerator doors.

Due on PC, Xbox and PlayStation 3 later this year. Check out the violent, story-setting, live action announcement trailer below.