City Interactive is working on an addon for its Terrorist Takedown action game, Payback. Scheduled for an April release, Terrorist Takedown: Payback is a standalone expansion pack in which the player once againtakes on the role of GIs fighting against terrorrism. The expansion incorporates various gameplay improvements over the original title and adds 10 new missions, and lets you fly AH 64-Apache, control the .50 caliber humvee machine gun, or take aim with an antitank cannon.

EA and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire videogame, scheduled for a November 2005 release in conjunction with the film based on J.K. Rowling's fourth book. The title will be available on all current consoles, handhelds, and the PC.

Activision today announced that the company has signed an agreement with SOE to publish Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade for PSP in all territories excluding U.S., Canada and Japan, as well as those areas serviced by SCEA. Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade is the only multiplayer action role-playing game currently available for the PSP.

Today Ready at Dawn, new dev studio formed by ex-Naughty Dog and former Blizzard people, announced that it is working on a new action/adventure product revolving around Jak's former sidekick. While not many details are available yet, 1UP revealed that you will be able to exchange data between Jak X on the PS2 and the new Daxter PSP title, to unlock new playable characters.

Revealed a little while ago, HD Interactive and Mithis today officially announced their new real-time strategy game for the PC entitled Joint Task Force. The game, a state-of-the-art military RTS with a contemporary setting, is scheduled for a worldwide release in Q2 2006.

Konami Corp announced that it will make its affiliate game software maker Hudson Soft Co a subsidiary through a private offering of new shares later this month. Responding to a capital infusion request from the financially troubled Hudson, Konami will buy 3 million new Hudson shares on April 27 for 1.43 billion yen. Previously Konami already owned 45% of the company, and after the acquisition of shares clims to 54%. Hudson Soft currently has 540 employees, but the upcoming restructuring will surely slim that number down.

Europe 1942. These are desperate hours for Allied forces as the Nazi war machine rages across a devastated European landscape. You are US Army Lieutenant William Holt, hand-picked by William “Wild Bill” Donovan to be the first field agent of the newly formed Office of Strategic Services­the OSS. Medal of Honor European Assault makes you the driving force in the struggle to liberate Europe.

Another day, another batch of game trailers were released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for :

• Jak X: Combat Racing - Trailer
• Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition - Trailer #4
• Echo: Secrets of the Lost Cavern - Teaser Trailer
• Fire Emblem [NGC] - Trailer #2
• Dragonshard - Dev Diary #5

Matrix Games today announced that acclaimed Author and Game Designer Mark H. Walker has signed on to release Lock 'n Load: Band of Heroes under the Matrix Games label. Band of Heroes is the next title in the well-received Lock 'n Load series of squad level board games and will mark the highly anticipated debut of the World War II period in the Lock 'n Load system.

Today Ubisoft announced the creation of a new videogame development studio that will employ 200 designers, animators and programmers in Quebec City. This announcement is part of the recently announced project to create 1000 new jobs by 2010 in Quebec, thereby bringing its total number of employees to 2000 in the province.

Stolen is an ultra realistic, third person, stealth-based, action game based around a high-tech female thief. Along with innovative high-tech stealth/robbery game actions and events, Stolen also boasts some truly amazing technical and presentational features to give it a spectacular look that will captivate gamers. Read more new screens.

Project: Snowblind is a the first-person action shooter putting you in the role of an elite super soldier, fighting on the front lines of a near-future war using unique weapons, abilities and high-tech gadgetry that inject depth and variety to gameplay. Eidos has released a demo for Crystal Dynamics' latest shooter featuring an intro sequence and the Opera House level. Read more for download links ...

Not really a surprise anymore, but now it is official. Ubisoft has decided to cancel the PC version of their recent console release of Ghost Recon 2. Disappointing product, lower than expected sales, and also the Winter 2005 release date of Ghost Recon 3 have all contributed to this unfortunate decision. We contacted a Ubisoft representative who, sadly enough, confirmed this. Read more for the official statement...

North American publisher Atlus releases new screens for its upcoming PS2 exclusive strategy role-playing game from Japan, Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity.

Restricted Area is an action-based roleplaying game with realtime combat, which combines a fascinating gameplay similar to Diablo 2 with innovative technology, tactic-shooter elements and a dark future scenario. Whiptail has released a demo allowing you to play 1 level as one of the four characters, Johnson. You start in the city where you can buy weapons, find out information, get implants and more... Read more for download links ...

SCEA announced today the Fall 2005 release of Jak X: Combat Racing, created exclusively for the PS2. Naughty Dog, Inc. continues to evolve the multi-million unit selling Jak and Daxter franchise with Jak X: Combat Racing, introducing head-to-head car combat and incorporating both multiplayer and online functionality to deliver a refreshingly new experience to fans of both the Jak and Daxter series and car combat gameplay.

Majesco has released a demo for Double Fine's long in development action/adventure Psychonauts. In this demo you play as the Psychonaut-in-training Raz, who is just beginning training at Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp. Explore the campgrounds and meet your fellow eclectic campers before you journey into Coach Oleander's mental battlefield to test your Psycho-wits and abilities (thanks GameSpot). Read more for download links ...

Ubisoft today announced that Far Cry Instincts will ship for consoles in September 2005. Far Cry Instincts is a technically advanced gaming experience built from the ground up using the kind of cutting-edge technology that Far Cry fans will recognize from the PC title. A hands-on demo of Far Cry Instincts will be present at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) May 18th - May 20th in Los Angeles, California.