SSX to shred in January 2012

The 2010-2011 ski season may be winding down, but the hype train for the new SSX is just warming up. The new snowboarding game from Electronic Arts, which was revealed last December, was shown off to the press as part of a recent showcase by the publisher. During the course of the presentation, the release window for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 title was revealed to be January 2012--right in the middle of the 2011-2012 ski season.

As outlined in GameSpot's brand-new preview, SSX recently dropped the subtitle "Deadly Descents." Rather than the more serious game that appeared to be teased during its reveal trailer, the game will indeed feature the insane tricks and high-speed racing the series was previously known for. However, in a break with the past, there will be no boundaries on the mountain, allowing players to free-ride virtually anywhere they please.

During the presentation, creative director Todd Batty described the three foundations of SSX as being "Race It," "Trick It," and "Survive It." The latter will be on full display during the game's Survival mode, which will have players try to descend a mountain under extreme conditions. Blizzards, avalanches, rock slides, and fog will be common in this mode, which will also offer specialized gear, such as an ice axe and wing suit to escape hairy situations.

For more on SSX, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.