Update: Namco Bandai has confirmed a 7th October European release date for Dark Souls.

Original story: Dark Souls - the spiritual successor to wickedly wonderful action RPG Demon's Souls - has a release date: 4th October.

The 4th October date comes at the end of a new Dark Souls video for E3 (posted below).

Dark Souls, like Demon's Souls, pits you against the odds - you're not supposed to succeed first time. And so you'll die. Lots. But you'll also learn. And the result is an incredibly tense and rewarding game.

Demon's Souls, a PS3 exclusive, reared up from leftfield and gained cult status through wide critical acclaim (9/10 - Eurogamer) Dark Souls will have to work harder for its plaudits, but will do so on both Xbox 360 as well as PS3.

Eurogamer saw Dark Souls in May, Christian Donlan strapping on his armour and mortuary tag. "Dark Souls is Demon Souls in every way that matters," he wrote, "in the intimidated stance of your character, in the wonderful triangulation of sword, shield and magic, and in that strange internal glow that travels with you, staining nearby walls gold.

"It's Demon Souls Plus - bigger, more elaborate, and meaner."