It seems that the Ghost Recon: Future Soldier FPS game will definitely be released this year after fits and starts. And to whet your appetitesm they have unveiled the Ghost Recon Network, a social networking feature of the game which they target COD MW3 Elite's service as they are offering this service for free as compared to the Elite's premium price to access it.

Ghost Recon Network will launch at the same time as the Xbox 360 and and Playstation 3 versions of the Ghost Recon: Future Soldier on the 22nd of May. PC gamers like us will have to wait til June for the PC version which will give console game players a headstart and waiting in ambush before PC gamers start using the Network.

Ghost Recon Network goes beyond consoles and PCs to bring their social network service to you as you will be able to track your stats and achievements, customise your weapons in their "gunsmithing" feature, find other custom gun work, and manage squads in your tablet or mobile phone. Android and iOS devices are covered by these features, and no mention yet of Windows Mobile 7.5 "Mango" is covered as well.

Just like Call of Duty's Elite, you can study the heatmaps of mission maps whilst you are away from the game as being able to study maps, weapons, and squads with your mobile devices will always make you prepared once you get back to where you gaming station is and be ready to frag other players.

Challenges are also part of the Ghost Recon Network, as friends in your social network will be able to give you notifications of being able to complete the challenge and give you that motivation to beat your friends and challenge them to beat your achievements.

Will Ghost Recon Network be able to wrestle away online gamers from COD Elite? We'll know when the service gets released next month.

Apart from the Ghost Recon Network, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier will have a online "Guerilla Mode" feature. This is a feature which allows for team playing based on General McChrystal's approach in Special Operations. He lets special operations forces occupy villages to sit it out to wait for the bad guys to come and take the village. Your team will need to take out the terrorist HQ and set up operations to protect the village from the OPFOR.

Just over a month's wait for the next installment of the Ghost Recon series, and another game which we hope won't be saddled with cheaters.