With this morning's Dashboard surprise (or slipup), we've learned that Gears of War 3 is scheduled to emerge on Xbox 360 next April. Given that Edge Online's earlier prediction of an April 2011 release for the game was spot on, the latest details from the site's anonymous source, said to be in US publishing, could certainly be accurate. From piloting a mech (allegedly appearing in single- and multiplayer modes) to the sequel's summer setting (reported to feature underwater levels, presumably to cool off), the report makes for an interesting read if you're wondering where Marcus and crew could possibly end up next year.

As for the bad guys, the Locust Horde is said to be evolving alongside the game's setting, spawning "tentacle-like appendages," which can attack players that are in cover. We've reached out to Microsoft and Epic for confirmation of any of these details, but, like Edge was told, we imagine the best we'll get is, "We don't comment on rumor or speculation."