EA to publish Brutal Legend in 2009

EA Partners has rescued publisher-less game Brutal Legend, the next project from celebrated developer Tim Schafer and Double Fine Productions.

Brutal Legend had been in Sierra's stable, but was dropped during the Activision Blizzard merger. The Xbox 360 and PS3 game will now be released in autumn 2009.

Brutal Legend tells the story of heavy metal roadie Eddie Riggs, who is dragged into a fantasy world based on rock culture, where metal titans once ruled and power chords rung from the hilltops.

Armed with a lifelong knowledge of the subject, Riggs sets about returning the world to its former glory, calling forth an army of axe-wielding rock-strocities to help.

"In Brutal Legend you'll go into a world you haven't gone into before, which is combinations of every single thing I've ever thought was cool in the world altogether in one place," Tim Schafer told Eurogamer in an interview published today.

Heavy metal stars Rob Halford (Judas Priest), Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead) and Ronnie James Dio (Dio/Black Sabbath) will all lend their voices to the game.

But it's Jack Black, voicing Eddie Riggs, who Tim Schafer feels is the real star of the show.

"From the beginning, before I even dreamed of having someone of that calibre on the game, we were hoping that we were making a game Jack Black would like," said Schafer.

"And he's contributed a lot; he improvises dialogue, he really brings a lot to the character. So he's been great to have. Not just for the participation, but contributing to the energy and enthusiasm of the project overall."

Double Fine, of course, was responsible for Psychonauts, the game Eurogamer felt was the best of 2005. So how much better will Brutal Legend be?

"Brutal Legend is the natural evolution of awesome. I think you must take the next step, even if it is a giant step... The next logical, enormous step towards awesomeness that we've made," explained Schafer, not really explaining anything at all. What a talent.

Head over to our full interview with Double Fine boss Tim Schafer to find out more.