Square Enix has finally announced Sleeping Dogs, the new title for the game formerly known as True Crime: Hong Kong.

Developed by United Front Studios, True Crime: Hong Kong was to be published by Activision, but was dropped at the same time the Guitar Hero and DJ Hero franchises were indefinitely suspended. Square Enix will release the rebranded game in the latter half of 2012 for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

An open-world crime drama, players control undercover cop Wei Shen as he tries to take down the Hong Kong Triads from within.

“Working on Sleeping Dogs has been such a huge passion for the team at United Front Games and we're really pleased to be working with Square Enix London Studios,” said Stephen Van Der Mescht, producer at United Front Games. “The extensive experience both our studios have in creating compelling openworld gameplay and rich and rewarding combat makes for a perfect partnership. Working together we can make sure that Sleeping Dogs is the most intense and immersive experience it can be.”

Square Enix’s Lee Singleton praised Sleeping Dogs’ combat system, adding, “It's super brutal with devastating takedown moves, and when added to UFG's proven heritage in driving games, a first class story and the vibrant backdrop of the Hong Kong underworld we get a fiery recipe with fun written all over it.”

Those after a refresher can find Gameplanet’s 2010 preview of True Crime: Hong Kong here.