Matrix Games today announced that acclaimed Author and Game Designer Mark H. Walker has signed on to release Lock 'n Load: Band of Heroes under the Matrix Games label. Band of Heroes is the next title in the well-received Lock 'n Load series of squad level board games and will mark the highly anticipated debut of the World War II period in the Lock 'n Load system.

Today Ubisoft announced the creation of a new videogame development studio that will employ 200 designers, animators and programmers in Quebec City. This announcement is part of the recently announced project to create 1000 new jobs by 2010 in Quebec, thereby bringing its total number of employees to 2000 in the province.

Stolen is an ultra realistic, third person, stealth-based, action game based around a high-tech female thief. Along with innovative high-tech stealth/robbery game actions and events, Stolen also boasts some truly amazing technical and presentational features to give it a spectacular look that will captivate gamers. Read more new screens.

Project: Snowblind is a the first-person action shooter putting you in the role of an elite super soldier, fighting on the front lines of a near-future war using unique weapons, abilities and high-tech gadgetry that inject depth and variety to gameplay. Eidos has released a demo for Crystal Dynamics' latest shooter featuring an intro sequence and the Opera House level. Read more for download links ...

Not really a surprise anymore, but now it is official. Ubisoft has decided to cancel the PC version of their recent console release of Ghost Recon 2. Disappointing product, lower than expected sales, and also the Winter 2005 release date of Ghost Recon 3 have all contributed to this unfortunate decision. We contacted a Ubisoft representative who, sadly enough, confirmed this. Read more for the official statement...

North American publisher Atlus releases new screens for its upcoming PS2 exclusive strategy role-playing game from Japan, Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity.

Restricted Area is an action-based roleplaying game with realtime combat, which combines a fascinating gameplay similar to Diablo 2 with innovative technology, tactic-shooter elements and a dark future scenario. Whiptail has released a demo allowing you to play 1 level as one of the four characters, Johnson. You start in the city where you can buy weapons, find out information, get implants and more... Read more for download links ...

SCEA announced today the Fall 2005 release of Jak X: Combat Racing, created exclusively for the PS2. Naughty Dog, Inc. continues to evolve the multi-million unit selling Jak and Daxter franchise with Jak X: Combat Racing, introducing head-to-head car combat and incorporating both multiplayer and online functionality to deliver a refreshingly new experience to fans of both the Jak and Daxter series and car combat gameplay.

Majesco has released a demo for Double Fine's long in development action/adventure Psychonauts. In this demo you play as the Psychonaut-in-training Raz, who is just beginning training at Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp. Explore the campgrounds and meet your fellow eclectic campers before you journey into Coach Oleander's mental battlefield to test your Psycho-wits and abilities (thanks GameSpot). Read more for download links ...

Ubisoft today announced that Far Cry Instincts will ship for consoles in September 2005. Far Cry Instincts is a technically advanced gaming experience built from the ground up using the kind of cutting-edge technology that Far Cry fans will recognize from the PC title. A hands-on demo of Far Cry Instincts will be present at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) May 18th - May 20th in Los Angeles, California.

The Collegiate Licensing Company today announced an exclusive licensing relationship with EA to develop, publish and distribute interactive college football games, on all consoles and handhelds. The six-year agreement gives EA the exclusive rights to the teams, stadiums and schools for use in its best-selling college football videogames, starting with NCAA Football 2006, scheduled for release this summer.

Without Warning, developed by CiRCLE Studio, founded by the Tombraider series creators, is a highly charged action shooter set against the backdrop of a brutal terrorist siege of a U.S. based chemical plant. The story takes place over a 12 hour period, during which players will experience the events from the vantage point of six characters that are caught up in the crisis situation.

SCEA announced today the first details behind the Fall 2005 release of its PS2 exclusive Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves. Incorporating many of Sucker Punch's signature talents including its critically-acclaimed artistic style and exceptional storytelling, players join Sly and his crew as they struggle against new villains as well as old adversaries in an effort to pull off the ultimate elaborate heist.

SCEA announced today the first details behind the Fall 2005 release of Ratchet: Deadlocked created exclusively for the PS2. Insomniac Games continues to innovate the Ratchet & Clank series and has enhanced the latest installment by incorporating co-op gameplay in both single-player and multiplayer story modes -- as well as squad-based functionality.

SEGA has released a demo for Sports Interactive's hockey management title, NHL: Eastside Hockey Manager 2005. The beta demo is a fully functional time limited version, allowing you six months worth of game-time in the NHL and UK elite leagues. Read more for download links ...

SCAR: Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo, licensed by Alfa Romeo and developed by Milestone, is a stunning racing simulation which combines both realistic car physics, and vibrant graphics together with classic Role Playing Game elements to become the first 'CARPG' ever developed.

NCsoft confirm today the exciting list of new features incorporated in the fourth update to the multi-award-winning City of Heroes, from Cryptic Studios. As a completely free content download for existing City of Heroes players, Issue #4: Colosseum will go live in May, while the opportunity to beta test the new content in the European Training Room goes live this week.

Blitz Games has today announced its latest high-profile project, Pac-Man World 3. Pac-Man World 3 combines contemporary platform game mechanics with traditional Pac-Man play principles, and features Pac-Man staples including Power Pellets, Pac-Dots, Pac-Chains and fruit while adding new elements such as a Pactrometer, power-up smoothies and several new special moves. Players will even get to play as ghosts Pinky and Clyde, who each have distinctive special abilities.

Sega has released a demo for its FPS/Horror game House of the Dead 3. This demo gives you the chance to try out a small portion of the game playable in two modes, Survival and Time-Attack (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

The mysterious ourcolony.net time clock ticking down towards May 12th has been revealed. As many suspected, a big announcement was to follow on that date, and it turns out that Microsoft will finally unveil the Xbox 2 (or Xenon) in a 30 minute live presentation ... on MTV. Hosted by Lord of the Rings' Elijah "Frodo" Wood, the presentation will be aired on ALL MTV channels worldwide. This way Microsoft marketing guru Peter Moore hopes to not only reach pure gamers, but also appeal to a broad spectrum of young people. The event will of course be filled with celebrities giving their first impressions, as well as an appearance of rockband The Killers. Prior to the show, MTV will start airing teasers to attract an as big as possible audience.