Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced that the first phase, closed beta test for Home, its 3D, online, avatar based community for PS3 had begun. Starting with an initially small group of both internal staff and known beta testers, the test will be opened up to many others at some point during the summer, including those who have registered.

While Relic is working on the Company of Heroes expansion pack, it is also continuing to finetune the original. While the Opposing Fronts expansion pack, and the future v1.7 patch, will include DX10 support, v1.6 brings further fixes, tweaks, enhancements, new maps ( & updates), and general optimizations.

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts and discovers that much of the wizarding community is in denial about the teenager's recent encounter with the evil Lord Voldemort, preferring to turn a blind eye to the news that Voldemort has returned.

Activision's Quebec-based studio Beenox announced today that the company expects to triple its workforce over the next two years, creating more than 200 new positions in the Quebec area by 2009.

Devil May Cry 4 is the fourth installment in Capcom's series starring Dante, the gunslinging demon hunter. DMC4 will introduce a new hero, Nero, who possesses a demonic arm that can pull in enemies or use them as projectiles.

Another day, another batch of games shipped to stores. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are announcements for:

• Alpha Prime (PC)
• ArmA: Combat Operations (PC)
• Heatseeker (Wii/PS2)
• Winx Club: Join the Club (PSP)
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new announcements become available. Read more for details ...

Microsoft announced that on Thursday, May 3, at 9 a.m. GMT, it will release four new action-packed Gears of War multiplayer maps in the thrilling Hidden Fronts Multiplayer Map Pack. For 800 Microsoft points, COG soldiers and the Locust Horde will clash once again for control of these four dynamic new areas, including Bullet Marsh, Garden, Process and Subway.

D3Publisher of America announced it will bring three titles to gamers through Xbox LIVE Arcade later this year. Mad Tracks, a racing game, RocketBowl, Xbox LIVE Arcade's first bowling game, and its recent PSP/NDS puzzle hit, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords.

Wild Arms Crossfire, also known as WildArms XF, is a fantasy turn-based strategy/RPG that will test your reflexes by having you react within seconds depending on what enemy you will be facing next. No official announcement yet, Wild Arms XF is scheduled in Japan later this year.

In an effort to make significant senior management changes, Left Behind Games, known for Left Behind: Eternal Forces, has accepted the resignation of Senior Vice President, David J. Klein and has discontinued employment of President, Jeffrey S. Frichner, while CEO Troy Lyndon for the resignation of the company's other three board members.

Sony Computer Entertainment announced the arrival of the PSP camera, Go!Cam, promising bring the creativity of film, photos and the fun of PSP together to create a camera for all ages and all occasions.

In Manhunt 2 an experiment at a secret research facility has gone catastrophically wrong. Daniel Lamb and Leo Kasper are the only surviving subjects. The Pickman Project will stop at nothing to hunt them down and stop the truth from getting out.

Battlefront is a new World War II battalion-level combat game based on the design philosophy of the popular Decisive Battles of World War II series. This update brings two improvements to the PBEM system to assure that the World War II-style player vs. player action runs in tip top shape.

The epic saga continues with Halo 3, in this third chapter of the Halo trilogy, Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood, and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax.

Oblivion is a single-player game that takes place in Tamriel's capital province, Cyrodiil. You are given the task of finding the hidden heir to a throne that sits empty, the previous emperor having been killed by an unknown assassin. Bethesda has now released the final v1.2.0416 patches fixing the previous ID issue (also on Xbox Live).

Eidos Interactive announce a brand new puzzle title for Nintendo DS, SPY-Q, developed by Razorback Developments, taking the player on a series of puzzle-solving spy missions, each designed to stretch even the keenest minds to their limit.

Almost a decade after the release of POSTAL, Running With Scissors has announced development of POSTAL III, coming to PC and X360 and powered by Valve's Source engine.

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

• Spider-Man 3 [ALL] - Launch Trailer
• Bioshock [X360/PC] - Water Trailer
• Shrek [ALL] - Launch Trailer
• Alien Syndrome [PSP/Wii] - Dev Diary Trailer #1
• Surf's Up [ALL] - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

The Settlers VI will focus on building larger and more fortified cities as well as planning and optimization in a medieval world. Attributes that are typical of the series are once again the focus of the game, create magnificent cities and inhabit them with hundreds of settlers going about their daily lives.

Aspyr announced Dreamfall Game of the Year Edition for PC, which includes the original The Longest Journey, its sequel Dreamfall: The Longest Journey and the MTV award-nominated original soundtrack for Dreamfall: The Longest Journey.