E3 2011: Rage 2 already planned, possibly "cross-generational"

LOS ANGELES--One of the centerpieces of Bethesda Softworks' booth at the 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo is Rage. The forthcoming sci-fi shooter will arrive on the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on September 13 and is being developed by Doom creator id Software.

But even though Rage hasn't even hit store shelves, id's head of technology John Carmack is already talking sequels. Speaking today with GameSpot, the legendary engineer said that while still putting the finishing touches on the first game, his team is laying a foundation for the follow-up.

When asked if Rage 2 was being planned, Carmack answered with a flat "Yes," adding, "We haven't got a formal, official announcement, but we're certainly headed in that direction."

That said, don't expect Rage 2 anytime soon. Carmack said that as soon as Rage goes gold, id's core engineering team--led by Carmack--will transfer over to the Doom 4 team to shepherd it to market. Once that is completed, they will turn their attention to the next Rage game.

Given that Doom 4 doesn't have a release date, it may be some time until Rage 2 sees the light of day. But even though Carmack said that he expects the sequel to be based on the same engine as the first Rage, he hinted it might appear on next-generation consoles, as well as current platforms.

When asked if Rage 2 would appear on next-gen consoles, Carmack said, "I am working on next-generation engine technology and what we'll be doing with graphics when we start really rethinking it. It's likely that the project after Doom 4, the next major one, will be designed around being cross-generational."

For more on Rage, read GameSpot's brand-new preview straight from E3 2011.