[Update - 4:28am CST] Publisher Microsoft has announced worldwide release dates for Gears of War 3: April 5, 2011 in North America and Asia, April 7 in Japan, April 8 in Europe.

[Original] The third entry in Epic Game's third-person shooter series Gears of War will indeed be released on Xbox 360 in April 2011, design director Cliff Bleszinski affirmed on tonight's episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Describing the project as "the worst kept secret in the video game industry," Bleszinski premiered the game's debut trailer and confirmed several details, including the presence of tentacled foes, female soldiers and a double-barreled shotgun.

"[Gears of War 3's release will] probably be around April 8," Bleszinski concluded.