Midway today announced plans to open a new internal development studio in Austin, Texas. Midway is actively recruiting for the new studio which it plans to open in the near future. Midway will be at the upcoming Austin Game Conference on Sept. 9-10 at the Austin Convention Center. Midway currently has product development studios in Chicago, San Diego and Seattle.

Rally the Troops! Reinforcements Have Arrived! KOEI's award-winning internal studio, Omega Force, the creators of Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors introduces its newest heroes in Samurai Warriors Xtreme Legends. Take on the role of four new legendary warriors, each in a unique story with branches and multiple endings. By your own hand, you will forge a new destiny for Japan!

After it was cancelled last minute a few weeks ago, EA lets us know that tomorrow (Friday Sept. 2nd) we can finally except to see it. The demo will weigh in at a massive 550mb, so not for the faint of heart or modem users, and will feature the battle for Henderson Field at Guadalcanal. Keep an eye on our fileserver network as we will surely have it available as soon as EA gives us the green light.

Alien Hominid is the debut console title from O~3 Entertainment and developer, The Behemoth. It is an evolution of classic 2D side-scrolling platform shooters, blending old school play mechanics with stunning hand drawn graphics (in other words, it looks pretty AND plays great).

S2Games has released a new patch for its online multiplayer FPS/RTS Savage: Battle for Newerth patch. This upgrade brings your retail game to v2.0e and includes authentication and server list fixes. The server browser and authentication systems have been completely rewritten. All game servers will now show up correctly.Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Sammy Studios has released new screen shots and information to introduce Robo Ky II Factory Mode, the exciting new customization mode in "Guilty Gear Isuka." Robo Ky II Factory Mode allows players to modify a new character called Robo Ky II by programming him with movesand combos taken from other Guilty Gear characters.

Bethesda Softworks today announced that its highly anticipated survival horror game, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, will be released in Q1 2005, thus pushing it back several months. Call of Cthulhu is a mix of horror, puzzle solving, exploration, and combat as you face the seemingly impossible task of battling an advanced race of evil aliens.

TimeGate announced today that it has opened up additional beta test slots for the highly anticipated Axis & Allies title. Inspired by the game of war, strategy, and economics found in the best-selling board game of the same name, the Axis & Allies PC title features unique elements that allow players to change the course of history in new ways. Read more for details ...

Atari and Firaxis have announced a beta test for the upcoming Sid Meier's Pirates! PC game. Open only to subscribers of AVAST, the official Pirates! newsletter, the beta test allows fans to join the crew to become one of the first to discover the legend and legacy of the classic Sid Meier adventure. Fans can go to the official Pirates! website, www.atari.com/pirates, to sign-up for AVAST.

Fireglow today revealed more information about its latest project "Stranger," a real-time strategy game, with elements of role playing games set in fantazy world. 'Stranger' will also feature multiplayer although details beyond "The players may play on their own, or unite in teams" are a bit sktechy. Read more for some new screens.

Activision is targeting virtual sportsmen with the newest release, "Cabela's Deer Hunt 2005 Season," for the Xbox, PS2 and PC, available in stores now.

LucasArts is excited to announce that the highly anticipated action/shooter, Star Wars Battlefront has officially GONE GOLD on PS2, Xbox and PC and is scheduled to blast its way onto store shelves on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 --- day and date with the Star Wars Trilogy, which marks the first time all three classic films will be available on DVD.

Sly 2: Band of Thieves is a comic crime caper, action-adventure game designed exclusively for the PlayStation2. Created by Seattle-based developer, Sucker Punch Productions, Sly 2: Band of Thieves incorporates many of Sucker Punch's signature talents including award winning toon-shaded animation and art direction, visual style, immersive storylines, strong characters, and highly interactive worlds. Read more to check out some new screens ...

TOCA Race Driver 2 will roar in with new and exclusive features for the PS2 edition including an additional circuit, Spain's Catalunya, and an enhanced Championship structure that allows for 99 additional car and track combinations. TOCA Race Driver 2 on PS2 will launch this October, complete with online racing.

Techland announced today that its rally racing sim 'Xpand Rally' has gone gold and will be available throughout Europe starting September 24. No date for North America has been announced after the publishing deal with Strategy First was recently cancelled. Xpand Rally races take place in different parts of the world, the player gets to race in different environments – from deserts to polar snows, over 60 tracks on which players will compete are one of the most important game’s aspects.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has awarded Global Star Software the exclusive worldwide license to develop, publish and distribute videogames based on the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures film, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," directed by Tim Burton, and based on the classic Roald Dahl book.

THQ Inc. today announced it is working closely with AMD to create an optimised version of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl for the impressive AMD Athlon 64 processor architecture.

Head over to our dedicated EGN section to check out the following new screens from Vivendi's 2004 EGN lineup:

Crash Twinsanity (PS2/Xbox) - Evil Genius (PC) - Fight Club (PS2/Xbox) - Men of Valor (PS2/Xbox/PC) - Predator: Concrete Jungle (PS2/Xbox) - Red Ninja (PS2/Xbox) - Spyro: A Hero's Tale (NGC/PS2/Xbox) - World of Warcraft (PC)

Rookie Detroit cop Lazarus Jones is thrust into the role of Ghosthunter after a routine patrol at a derelict high school goes awry. Lazarus and partner Anna Steele stumble upon the supernatural research center of Professor Peter Richmond where they unintentionally liberate a legion of poltergeists. A deadly spirit abducts Anna, while another ghost fuses with Lazarus, giving him the ability to see into the realm of the dead.

'Silent Hunter III' will add new dimensions to the simulation experience. The player will engage in a compelling ocean environment, featuring dynamic weather, and experience the intensity of historical naval warfare. Taking the role of the U-boat commander, players will seek their enemy with sonar and periscope, attack the enemy with torpedoes, destroy them with the deck gun, or command their crew to do the job.

In Evil Genius, a strategy/life simulation game, you assume the role of a wicked mastermind bent on achieving global domination through the construction of the ultimate doomsday device. A tongue-in-cheek take on the 60's spy thriller genre, Evil Genius offers the player the chance to be the villain and control a secret island fortress complete with powerful (and strangely dressed) henchmen, mindlessly loyal minions and a wide range of hilarious gizmos.

Head over to our dedicated EGN section to check out the following new screens from SCi's 2004 EGN lineup:

• Battlestations: Midway (PS2/Xbox/PC)
• Constantine (PS2/Xbox)
• Rogue Trooper (PS2/Xbox)
• Roll Call (PS2/Xbox)