Visceral Games, an arm of Electronic Arts, today announced that Dead Space 3 is now available at U.S. retail stores and online.

The game pushes users to their psychological breaking point during an expedition to uncover the secret of the Necromorph infestation, and unravel the mystery behind the game’s mysterious Markers. But players won’t have to go at it alone, thanks to new multiplayer options.

For the first time in the franchise’s history, players can choose a solo expedition, or grab a friend using the new fully integrated drop-in/drop-out co-op feature, which allows players to take on the role of Sergeant John Carver to unlock story details, side missions, and gameplay mechanics only he can uncover.

“Gamers are going to be thrown in and out of space, taken to a violent new ice planet and allowed to explore several different abandoned spaceships and caves,” Steve Papoutsis, vice president and general manager of Visceral Games, said in a statement.

“But we’re not stopping there,” he said. In March, Visceral will launch Dead Space 3 Awakened, an all-new digital download pack. “In Dead Space 3 Awakened, gamers will experience some of the most disturbing content they have ever seen in a Dead Space game,” he said. “[And] they are going to love it.”

The extension will be available on the PlayStation Network and PC via Origin.com for $9.99, and on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 800 MS Points.

“With Dead Space 3 our goal was to evolve the franchise bringing in innovative features like drop-in/drop out co-op, weapon crafting, and an engaging atmosphere while still retaining the incredible suspense, horror, action and sound that the series is known for,” Papoutsis, also an executive producer of the game, said.

The original 2008 title was ranked among PCMag’s 10 most violent games of all time. EA promised in July to downplay the horror in the game’s next installment, instead turning up the action.

Dead Space 3 is now available for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 with Kinect support, and the PC; it will hit European shelves on Feb. 8. Stay tuned for PCMag’s full review.

For more from Stephanie, follow her on Twitter @smlotPCMag(Opens in a new window).