'Injustice 2' news: NetherRealm Studios officially announces 2017 release date for sequel

Fans can finally mark their calendars as NetherRealm Studios confirmed that "Injustice 2" will be released on May 16 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

NetherRealm made the announcement through its official Twitter handle, indicating that the May 16 date is when "Injustice 2" will arrive in North and South America. It remains unclear whether an Asian or European release will be set on a different day, but if it follows the first installment's launch schedule, the game may come out in other regions just a few days later.

The last character reveal for the DC Comics fighting game happened back in August, when a gameplay trailer featured Deadshot and Harley Quinn. Since there are still at least two gaming conventions between January and May 16, fans can expect that more details about "Injustice 2" will be revealed. So far, the lineup already includes Wonder Woman, Atrocitus, Superman, Flash, Batman, Gorilla Grodd, Aquaman, and Blue Beetle. Familiar faces like Lex Luthor and Joker are likely to make the cut, but players are also looking forward to seeing newcomers to the franchise.

Compared to its predecessor, "Injustice 2" introduces a greater deal of customization to each version of a character. This means that one player's Supergirl could be drastically different from another player's — from the character's outfit to the skill set. The developer has been rather tight-lipped about other important details on the game, including its storyline and how it will be able to balance customization in online multiplayer.

Before diving into the upcoming sequel, fans who are interested in learning some of the series' backstory can check out DC's "Injustice: Gods Among Us" comic series. Its final chapter, titled "Year Five," leads into the events of the first installment and features Superman gathering a collection of powerful villains as he tries to defeat Batman.

Developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, "Injustice 2" is a fighting video game that serves as a sequel to 2013's "Injustice: Gods Among Us."