Yesterday, news was leaked via North American gaming magazine, Gamepro, that a new title in the hugely popular Tony Hawk's skateboarding series was in the (half) pipeline - hohoho. The publication divulged information including the fact that the game will sport a fully featured video editor as well as a revamped multiplayer mode. Today the game's publisher, Activision, has revealed even more.

Entitled "Tony Hawk's Proving Ground", the new title will be grinding its way onto the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS (no mention of the PlayStation Portable, however). Activision promises that it will be the most freeform title in the franchise that players have yet seen, presumably expanding on the efforts made in previous games such as Tony Hawk's American Wasteland.

Proving Ground will feature a number of new modes in addition to those mentioned above. The most harked about so far is the "Nail-the-Trick" mode, which, although no details have been announced, we assume involves, y'know, um, like...nailing tricks... perfectly. Players will also be able to switch between offline and online skateboarding seamlessly, which is an exciting prospect, we're sure you'll agree.

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground is being developed by Neversoft and the studio's president, Joel Jewett, has described the newest title as the largest, deepest and most compelling Tony Hawk's game ever.

"Tony Hawk's Proving Ground drops players into the skateboarding world like never before," Jewett said. "You can skate the best lines, define your own style and produce your own videos. You can even take it further by tricking out your own Skate Lounge, where you can hang out and skate with others online."

Proving Ground is due out this coming autumn, with a mighty wad of cash reaching the bank balance of the world-famous skater that fronts the series shortly afterwards - not that we're jealous or anything.