BioWare's Mass Effect 2 will be coming after the holiday season, but if you're planning on playing you can start beefing up your system to meet the requirements.

OS = Windows XP SP3 / Windows Vista SP1 / Windows 7
Processor = 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or equivalent AMD CPU
Memory = 1 GB RAM for Windows XP / 2 GB RAM for Windows Vista and Windows 7
Hard Drive = 15 GB
DVD ROM = 1x Speed
Sound Card = DirectX 9.0c compatible
Direct X = DirectX 9.0c August 2008 (included)
Input = Keyboard / Mouse
Video Card = 256 MB (with Pixel Shader 3.0 support). Supported Chipsets: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 or greater; ATI Radeon X1600 Pro or greater. Please note that NVIDIA GeForce 7300, 8100, 8200, 8300, 8400, and 9300; ATI Radeon HD3200, and HD4350 are below minimum system requirements. Updates to your video and sound card drivers may be required. Intel and S3 video cards are not officially supported in Mass Effect 2.

The second chapter in the Mass Effect trilogy takes you to the darkest reaches of space, where you must uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of humans across many worlds. Prepare yourself for a suicide mission to save mankind. Travel the galaxy to assemble a team of soldiers and combat specialists, and launch an all-out assault on the heart of enemy territory.

Mass Effect 2 will be available on January 26th for Xbox and PC.

Bioware announced the wait is coming to an end for the sequel to popular Mass Effect from 2007. Mass Effect 2 will ship January 26th, 2010. The second installment of the trilogy will continue the story of Commander Shepard and humanity's first steps onto the galactic stage.

Mass Effect 2 offers deep character customization and numerous improvements to the intense third-person-shooter style combat. Travel the galaxy to assemble a team of soldiers and combat specialists, and launch an all-out assault on the heart of enemy territory.

Bioware also announced pre-order bonuses with Gamestop exclusivity including:

• The Terminus Armor is designed for use in extreme planetary conditions, increasing run speed and personal shields, and augmenting weapons with an additional magazine of reserve ammo.
• The M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon generates a high-powered localized gravity well, accelerating particles to near-infinite mass, and ultimately expanding the selection of heavy weapons available to players when they gear up for combat missions in Mass Effect 2.

Those loyal to other retailers for their pre-orders won't be without, and will get "Inferno Armor" which boosts running speed and improves combat powers damage.

Mass Effect 2 will be available for the Xbox 360 and PC. Those who haven't played the first game can pick up the Platinum Hits edition for $20.