Ubisoft today reinforces its strategy to dominate the war games market by announcing a long-term deal with award-winning developer Gearbox Software to publish a new military franchise: Brothers in Arms. With its breakthrough squad-based combat mechanism and unprecedented realism, the first game in the series is poised to revolutionize the WWII genre when it ships on consoles and PC starting Holiday 2004. Read more for details and the first screens!

Legacy Interactive, the games publisher who is quickly making a name for itself by bringing television’s greatest dramas to life on the PC, announced today two new additions to its “Law & Order” PC game portfolio, Law & Order: Justice is Served and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Vivendi Universal Games will distribute both titles in North America. Law & Order: Justice is Served will ship this fall, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent will be available in Q1 2005. Both titles will be showcased in Legacy Interactive’s meeting room at the 2004 E3 Expo in Los Angeles, May 12-14. Read more for details and screens ...

Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that the company is developing the second installment in its Smash Court series. Scheduled for release exclusively on the PlayStation2, Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2 will ship in the summer of 2004. Read more for details & screens ...

Nevrax announced today that the Saga of Ryzom, its highly anticipated multi-genre massively multiplayer RPG, enters Open Beta beginning today, April 13th 2004. Community relations and customer support for the beta will be provided by the Themis Group in the United States, and hosting will be provided by Jolt Online Gaming. Read more for details ...

Codemasters announced today that its most comprehensive motor sport racing game ever, ToCA Race Driver 2: Ultimate Racing Simulator, has shipped to North American retail outlets for the Xbox. The PC DVD-ROM version will ship later this week. The title is available at a suggested retail price of $29.99.

The Blue Vault of the title refers to an organisation which spends its time hunting down pesky aliens and doing its best not to let other humans even know the extraterrestrial sons-of-bitches even exist. There are plans for six different alien species, with around thirty missions in the finished game. The Blue Vault is a strategy title, so expect such delightful elements as resource gathering, unit recruitment and skill advancement to make a decent fist of things, though we're promised a detail level on a par with RPGs. For more details, head on over to PCZone's coverage.

Turbine Entertainment Software Corp. today announced that fans of the award-winning 3D massively multiplayer online role playing game Asheron’s Call (AC) will receive a new expansion pack in early 2005. Available for the PC, the latest AC installment will offer fresh challenges to experienced players while welcoming new gamers to the colorful and exciting fantasy world of Dereth.

Exctinction is a tactical multiplayer shooter set in a future where mankind has been all but wiped out by alien invaders. After years of rebuilding their armies in secret, the remaining forces of man make one final, desperate attempt to rid the Earth of its unwelcome visitors. Expect multiple character classes with unique abilities, amazing firepower, and a fair share of pulse pounding, bone crunching vehicles as human and alien forces battle on derelict wastelands, hidden jungles and polar icecaps in the ultimate fight for survival! Blow the hell out of everything as up to 32 players battle on expansive interactive environments with surprises of their own. Exctinction is under development at Cinematic Games.

Thrones and Patriots adds a multitude of new features to Rise of Nations, introducing six new nations, a wide variety of new single player campaigns, more than 20 new units, new wonders and an innovative new Government feature. With the new Government feature, any nation, old or new, can choose exactly how to be governed, which has far-reaching effects on how units perform in various situations. All-new single player campaigns will allow gamers to control the course of history during historical events that changed the world. Read more for a batch of new screens ...