UK developer Frontier Developments has released several new shots of its action-adventure game The Outsider, which is currently being developed for PS3 and Xbox 360.

The Outsider is described by Frontier as a "high-tech thriller" and is set in Washington DC. The story follows a CIA operative framed for a crime he didn’t commit as he attempts to clear his name while avoiding being captured. Armed with an array of cutting-edge technology and weaponry, the CIA operative must try to turn the tables on the shady organizations that have set him up.

Frontier's idea behind The Outsider is to offer the gamer a similar sort of freedom to that which was experienced in the classic space adventure Elite. Therefore gamers can choose their own route through the game and decide whether they want to proceed on a path of bloody revenge or attempt a more subtle retribution.

The new screenshots are from the demo that Frontier will have on show behind closed doors at next week's E3, and show off the lighting effects. The Outsider's game engine is capable of generating. However, Frontier is keen to point out that it understands that attractive visuals are only the start of a good game and intends The Outsider to be a next-generation game also in terms of the amount of freedom it affords the gamer.

We'll be exploring The Outsider next week at E3, so stay tuned for more details.

May 5, 2006