Next Angry Birds is an Adventure RPG With Turn Based Combat, Angry Birds Epic

I admit, I had my doubts, but it looks like Rovio is finally taking its mascot on a different flight path. Some information on the next game featuring the gliding avians, Angry Birds Epic, has finally come to light.

Instead of a simple flinging themselves at bunkered swine, the futtering fowl are changing things around completely by flying south to a completely new genre - the adventure RPG with turn-based combat. Brave new territory for the frustrated finches.

Tried and true genre staples will appear as integral parts of Angry Birds Epic: potions, armor, weapons (wonder if a slingshot will be one), upgrades, etc., but expect an Angry twist on each portion. The interesting part is that the game also promises a crafting system, so players won't have to grind away on enemy after enemy to find the best pig leather helmet, or whatever sort of Angry themed equipment Rovio has in mind. Rather, defeated enemies drop resources that players can use to craft their choice of ornitho outfits.

For gamers with more money than time to waste, microtransactions will let players buy what they need instead of earning it.

The game will get a soft launch of sorts with an incredibly early build scheduled to hit iTunes in Canada and Australia this week. If all goes well, the finished game will launch globally on all smartphone operating systems later in the year. We'll provide more information as it comes to light.