Maelstrom is a groundbreaking strategy action epic which takes place on a devastated future Earth. In the wake of an apocalyptic ecological disaster, the planet is threatened by an alien invasion, thus becoming the battleground as a divided human race fights for survival.

Being patient might help you win a hand at poker, but it certainly won’t help you get ‘Texas Hold ‘em’ for free. All Xbox 360 gamers who log on to Xbox Live Marketplace between 1am Pacific Wednesday, August 23 through 1am Pacific Friday, August 25 can download ‘Texas Hold ‘em’ for free.

The Mark, a first person shooter, is about the real threat from today – terrorism. The war of the 21st century is now being fought; and it’s here. US Marine corps officer Steve Fletcher and top-rated mercenary Austin Hawke join up in a thrilling battle against international terrorism.

Far Cry Instincts Predator includes two games in one – all new Far Cry Instincts Predator content, as well as the original Far Cry Instincts. After a few months, UbiSoft is finally releasing the first update for the next-gen FarCry installment fixing various issues with the game. Read more for details ...

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:

• Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam [Wii] - Behind the Scenes Trailer #1
• Dark Messiah of Might & Magic - Kill Kevin Trailer #2
• Reprobates - Trailer
• Test Drive Unlimited [X360] - Chevrolet Trailer
• One Piece: Pirates' Carnival [NGC/PS2] - Trailer
• Naruto: Clash of Ninja 2 [NGC] - Trailer #4
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Unreal Tournament 2007 is being developed by North Carolina-based Epic Games. The game promises to blow fans away with the gameplay, modifiability and visuals that Epic's Unreal Engine 3 technology will deliver.

Valve and casual game developer PopCap Games today announced an agreement to deliver PopCap's games via Steam.

The Sims 2 Pets allows players to create and control digital characters throughout their lives while determining the outcome of their relationships and choosing their destiny. Each platform will feature customized content.

EA today announced that best-selling fantasy author R.A. Salvatore will keynote the Dark Age of Camelot Roundtable Fan Gathering this September. Salvatore’s books have sold more than fifteen million copies and include the beloved series The Hunter’s Blades Trilogy, Icewind Dale Trilogy, and The Dark Elf Trilogy.

Since Troika is no longer amongst the living this patch is not official, so use at your own discretion. This update brings Activision's Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines retail game to v2.8 (requires v1.2 patch installed) and addresses a number of known issues, gameplay tweaks, bug fixes and so forth (thanks 3DGamers).

SEGA today announced Sonic Riders is being developed for the PC and will ship this holiday season. Sonic Riders takes gamers on an electrifying ride on air boards at break-neck speeds through a wide variety of tracks. Catching massive air and pulling off insane aerial tricks will power up players against their opponents in a race to the finish line.

F.E.A.R. is a paranormal action thriller presented entirely in first person. It is an unprecedented adrenaline rush of close quarters combat seamlessly melded with the spine-tingling, shocking intensity of the unknown.

EA today announced the acquisition of Phenomic Game Development, known for The Settlers and SpellForce. EA Phenomic, based in Ingelheim, Germany, now becomes EA's newest studio in Europe, with a creative team dedicated to developing RTS games for the PC, console and online.

Scarface is a third person action shooter now coming for the first time to game consoles & PC worldwide. In a complex world filled with excess and greed, players can take the role of Tony Montana, one of the most ruthless gangsters ever depicted on film.

Today Ubisoft announced that it will publish Gameloft's Asphalt: Urban GT 2, a driving simulation game for the PSP and NDS, developed by Virtuos and Game Source.

Joint Task Force is a story of modern war where players match superior tactics and military technology against dangerous unconventional forces around the globe. This single-player demo includes 2 missions, neutralize a Somalian port with a small force of infantry specialists and head deep into the Columbian jungle to smash a heavily armed cartel.

Eidos Interactive and TT Games confirm a new LEGO adventure in Bionicle Heroes, bringing to life the most powerful and exciting LEGO characters ever seen in one game, in an action-packed world of adventure and discovery.

Techland announced today that next week it will release a MP demo for its FPP Wild West themed shooter Call of Juarez MP. The demo will contain two game modes – Skirmish and Robbery located in typical Old West’s towns and players will be able to impersonate both outlaws and sheriffs and play in two available classes for each team, as a Gunslinger or a Rifleman.

Blizzard has released a small update for its MMORPG World of Warcraft. This v1.12 update balances various character classes, adds user interface and battlegrounds fixes, as well as several other tweaks.

In Company of Heroes gamers will experience the journey of the brave men of Able Company in a deep single-player campaign that begins with the invasion of Normandy through their fight across Europe, all set against the most dynamic, and completely destructible, battlefield ever seen in a game. This demo includes a tutorial and 2 missions.