Following up on Friday's news that Gears of War 3 has gone gold, Epic Games has released the opening cinematic for the game. Anya Stroud, the "dispatch girl" from the first two games, trades in her radio for a gun.

While she prepares her Lancer, Anya sets up the storyline. Even if you haven't played a single GoW game, it should bring you up to speed. It's a pretty blatant info-dump but meh, it gets the job done.

Gears 3 takes place a year and a half after the events of GoW2. Jacinto, the last human stronghold, is no more. The survivors moved to the island of Vectes and attempted to rebuild.

However, they were soon attacked by the Lambent, a mutated variation of the Locust Horde. After COG's leader Chairman Prescott abandons his post, the remaining humans decide to split up. Anya, Marcus Fenix and the rest of Delta Squad leave on a naval ship called the Raven's Nest along with some of the other survivors. This is where the game begins.

Gears 3 is due on September 20th in North America and PAL territories.