DIRT: Colin McRae Off-Road is set to be the most diverse and exhilarating off-road racing experience ever with sensational gravel, mud and dirt events the world over. With week one sales out the door, Codemasters announced that DiRT has surpassed 500K copies globally.

Rockstar is bringing its best-selling, open-ended crime series to the next-gen consoles with Grand Theft Auto IV. While no specific info on the game is available yet, we now know that the franchise returns to New York...

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:

• Lair [PS3] - Trailer
• The Settlers [NDS] - German Trailer
• The Escape From Paradise City - Boris Trailer
• Boogie [Wii] - Movie Maker Trailer
• Bee Movie Game [ALL] - Trailer
• Skate [ALL] - Gameplay Controls Trailer
• Dynasty Warriors Gundam [PS3/X360] - Trailer #2
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Trilogy Studios announced it is expanding its virtual world software development studio as it is working with MTV Networks' Music Group on the development and evolution of MTVN's "Pimp My Ride" virtual world.

Destination Software announced it has signed a license agreement with Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, allowing it to publish and distribute Yamaha racing video games, starting with Yamaha Supercross.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is Nintendo's latest incarnation in the popular Super Smash Bros. series of titles featuring all new characters ranging from Kirby and Wario to Samus, and even Metal Gear Solid's Snake.

SEGA's Universe at War: Earth Assault, developed by Petroglyph, is a combat-intensive RTS game enlisting players in an epic struggle to prevent total alien domination of planet Earth. Universe at War: Earth Assault will support Games for Windows Live, enabling PC vs. Xbox 360 cross-platform gaming.

Penny Arcade today announced that exhibit space is sold out for its upcoming PAX gaming culture festival, taking place at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in downtown Seattle August 24th-26th, officially tripling the size of exhibit space from previous years.

It has been a while since we heard anything from Activision's Soldier of Fortune franchise, but that is all about to change. Making its first appearance since Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix back in 2002, SoF: Pay Back will also make its next-gen console debut. Whether Raven Soft will once again make limbs fly all over our screen was not revealed, so hopefully more will become clear in a few weeks time at E3. As it stands now, Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back is scheduled for a November release, but that is most likely to change (thanks Robert).

UPDATE: EBGames as well as GameStop now have product listings up...

UPDATE #2: Our source confirmed that SoF Payback is indeed in development, although not by Raven Software but Cauldron, who recently did History Channel: Civil War, and published by Activision Value, known for the Cabela's hunting titles.

Pandemic has constructed a whole new "playground of destruction" from the ground up, fully stocked with the hottest vehicles and weapons. Set in a new and exotic hotspot, you can be your own boss in a wide-open world where there's only one rule: everybody pays.

Six years after the launch of its sci-fi MMO Anarchy Online, Funcom announced the introduction of a a point-based system where players can purchase selected virtual items, as well as new content and services.

Undercover: Dual Motives is an point & click adventure game where players take control of physicist and reluctant spy Dr. John Russell in his early days, investigating at a British research facility, and hunt for a Nazi nuclear bomb.

Mad Tracks is an action-packed toy-car racing game, with toy cars powered by spring engines. The Encore Expansion Pack (350 Microsoft Points) offers 9 additional races and 6 mini games where players bolt down looped Victorian stairs, barrel across the skyline on rooftops, and speed over rickety wooden ramps in a German castle.

Majesco's frenetic geometric battle game Blast Works: Build, Fuse & Destroy, is a side-scrolling shooter that lets players craft the game to their liking by building their own levels, ships and enemy ships. In addition, players can absorb the pieces and weapons of destroyed enemy ships to bolster their own defenses during battle.

Dagger Games Studio's Dimensity is a strategy game with a strong RPG element, focused on the warfare between different races in a fantasy world. The game play involves real time battles, simplified management, unit upgrades and leader development. As a result players are immediately immersed into a challenging world of war and mystery.

Shrapnel Games announced that it has signed a publishing agreement with British developer Chronic Reality for its upcoming single-player, action orientated dungeonbash Scallywag: In the Lair of the Medusa.

Driver: Parallel Lines offers an open, fast-paced driving action-movie experience and features an unfolding storyline of double crossing and revenge. You take on the role of a notorious 18 year old who, free from conscience and rules, is the most sought after driver-for-hire in town.

Nintendo announced WiiWare, a game-creation service that will allow developers large and small to create new downloadable game content for sale through its Wii's Shop Channel, paving the way for smaller, more creative games to make their way to the public at lower prices. The first WiiWare content is expected to launch early 2008.

2K Sports announced that former Ohio State All-American center and future top pick in the 2007 NBA Draft Greg Oden has been named the cover athlete and official spokesman for College Hoops 2K8.

Sword of the New World is modeled after Europe’s exploration of the New World, allowing players to create and simultaneously control a family of characters utilizing its Multiple Character Control system. K2 Network announced that the open public beta for its MMORPG Sword of the New World: Granado Espada is now live...