Call of Duty 2 is an all new epic title which delivers an unparalleled portrayal of the chaos and intensity that was World War II. Call of Duty 2 is powered by a proprietary new engine featuring striking new visuals, advanced A.I. technology, the most realistic squad combat and explosive action in new historic campaigns. Read more to check out one new screen, and info on some of the military personel contributing to the historical accuracy of the game.

Turbine today revealed the first details about The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, the first and only massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) based on the literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Read more for more info & screens...

Crave Entertainment today announced that they have signed 7 top poker professionals to exclusive agreements so that their character likenesses, play styles and iconic signature personality traits can be incorporated into World Championship Poker 2: Featuring Howard Lederer. World Championship Poker 2 is slated to ship this Fall for the PS2 and Xbox.

Ubisoft releases a new patch for its submarine sim Silent Hunter 3. This update brings your retail game to v1.3 and addresses the usual bugs fixes and gameplay tweaks. Read more for details and download links ...

Rise of Legends is in so many ways the spiritual successor to Rise of Nations, but the long and the short of it is we got excited about doing a fantasy game. Now clearly your traditional "orcs, elves, dwarves" sort of fantasy has been—shall we say—thoroughly covered in other games, and so the story which got us excited is one where the magic of fantasy meets a world of technology. So magic and technology collide, with cataclysmic results!

EA today announced that Need for Speed Underground 2 for the Nintendo DS has shipped to retail stores nationwide. Need for Speed Underground 2 gives gamers a new way to take on the underground tuner racing scene with exclusive features and gameplay only available on the Nintendo DS.

Matrix Games and X1 Software announced today that Banzai!, their newest IL-2 Sturmovik series expansion (for Pacific Fighters), has gone gold and will soon be available for sale from the Matrix Games website. Banzai will require the previously installed software of Pacific Fighters. Read more for details ...

Got Game Entertainment today announced a July 14, 2005 release date for the North American release of "RHEM 2", an intricate pure-puzzle first person adventure game, and the sequel to the popular "RHEM". Made for PC and Mac, "RHEM 2" rejoins Zetais and Kales as they now explore a hidden city in underground caves far beneath the earth's surface. Set as a direct sequel in story and gameplay to its predecessor, "RHEM 2" features non-linear gameplay, non-violent story, and mind-bending puzzles.

In2Games today announces the forthcoming revolution in golf gaming – Real World Golf. Following an exceptionally successful public debut at April's London Golf Show, In2Games is delighted to announce that Real World Golf will be launched for PS2 and PC on August 26 2005.

London Taxi, developed by Data Design Interactive, is a driving game based on the Official FX4 London Black Cab. London Taxi will be set in London England, complete with landmarks such as: Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, and Hyde Park.

Ubisoft, AMD and Crytek have released a massive (500mb) update Crytek's Far Cry, as well as an "exclusive" content pack, which includes new MP maps and a new SP level. This upgrade optimizes the game for the AMD 64-bit processors under Windows XP Pro x64. Read more for download links ...

Russian Game Factory Interactive presents its projects for the second time running at the trade show E3 in Los Angeles Convention center. With the first presentation a success GFI signed a contract with Strategy First who have published such games as ALFA:Antiterror and Power of Law in the US and Canada. GFI will be showing Rat Hunter, Neuro, Officers, Jagged Alliance 3D, Warfare and the previously unannounced African Alliance. Read more for details..

The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction is a new action/adventure game, developed by Simpsons: Hit & Run's Radical Games, and will feature the ultimate in destructible environments, an awesome Hulk-powered ability to weaponize any object and a massive free-roaming, fully interactive world.

Aurora Watching is a third person perspective stealth game taking place in the Arctic. During the mission, Sullivan faces many opponents, not all of whom are human and each of which can be defeated in many ways, Mini-games, puzzles, and hi-tech gadgets keep players excited from the very beginning to the end.

SEGA today served up an ace by announcing that they will publish Virtua Tennis World Tour for the PSP. SEGA has chosen SUMO Digital, UK developers behind OutRun 2 for Xbox, to develop Virtua Tennis World Tour. The arcade and home console hit, widely regarded for its fast-paced, accessible gameplay has been redesigned specifically for the PSP and is confirmed for release in Autumn 2005.

The first-ever Battlefield console installment will drop players into the heat of battle on the high tech frontlines, entering a new modern era of combat with more firepower and new expansive environments. Armed with the latest modern weaponry, players can take control of over 30 vehicles, including tanks, helicopters and fast attack vehicles, to engage in major conflicts in some of the largest online battles.

Heart of Empire: Rome leads the player through 14 huge missions as they actually build & control ancient Rome in glorious real-time 3D. From simple beginnings, they must quickly build housing for their growing population; start to meet their increasing desires for food, goods and entertainment.

Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst introduces server-based storage of player data thereby freeing the players from being confined to playing from any single PC/location. New team system, enhanced character graphics, and better game controls are some of the other improvements introduced in the continuing evolution of PSO universe. SEGA has released the open beta client for Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst allowing you to participate in the public beta test, although a registration is required.

GarageGames today announced that Marble Blast is available for download on Xbox Live Arcade. XBLA brings popular retro classics and broad appeal games directly to your Xbox over the Xbox Live service.

According to a Japanese newspaper, Sony and Toshiba are close to finalizing a plan to develop a common standard for next-generation DVDs to resolve a three-year-long battle over formats that threatened the industry's growth. Formal announcement and details are due next week, May 16.