Tempe-based Limelight Networks announced today that it has been selected by Valve, the leading entertainment software company responsible for critically acclaimed games such as Half-Life, to host its Steam platform servers and provide services for the distribution of its online content. The partnership provides gamers across the globe with fast, reliable and uninterrupted access -- via Limelight Networks' powerful delivery network -- to Valve's newest offerings and leading games, as well as offerings from others distributing their content via Steam.

Electronic Arts announced today that NFL STREET has shipped to retail nationwide under the EA SPORTS BIG brand. The first game of its kind licensed by the NFL, NFL STREET boasts its ability to deliver a new brand of football. The game will be available on the PS2, the Xbox, and the GameCube.

Codemasters has won the global publishing rights to Soldiers: Heroes of World War II (previously known as Outfront): a dramatic, fast-paced tactical strategy game, due summer 2004 exclusively for PC. Created by Ukrainian company Best Way, under the development title of "OutFront", Soldiers is a further signing for Codemasters from 1C Company. Codemasters will also publish two other 1C Company titles: Perimeter and Wartime Command. Read more for details, screens and the first teaser trailer...

Enlight announced today they have acquired the North American rights to release Nemesis of the Roman Empire (known in Europe as 'Celtic Kings The Punic Wars'). Continuing on the traditions of the award-winning original Celtic Kings: Rage of War from Haemimont Games, Nemesis of the Roman Empire will explore the three Punic wars between Rome and Carthage in 264-146 B.C. and will include the famous campaigns of Hannibal and Scipio Africanus. Read more for details & screens ...

Starring the sexiest female models to grace the ring, this over-the-top grappler is set to deliver intense girl-on-girl wrestling action with jaw-dropping graphic detail. WWX is the first-ever women’s wrestling game and is being developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo in partnership with the acclaimed development studio, Yuke’s Entertainment, and renowned CG movie specialists, Polygon Magic’s VSL Team. Read more for some intro movie screens ...

Blizzard has released new update patches for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos as well as The Frozen Throne. This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.14b and apart from all the previous fixes it addresses an issue with recalling control groups and quickly pressing 'TAB' tochange your selected subgroup. Read more for download links ...

World Championship Pool 2004 aims to be the most authentic pool game on the market. Boasting six modes of play - 9-Ball, 8-Ball, Career Mode, a Snooker game, Trick Shots and Fun Games, World Championship Pool 2004 promises to appeal to both die-hard pool fans and casual pool-hall players. No details as to what the demo contains are available at this point. Read more for download links ...

Publisher Access Games has released new screens for their PS2 game Spy Fiction. The game, which took three years to plan and has been in development for two years, is an action game that allows players to experience numerous Hollywood-style spy scenes. The character designer for the game is Range Murata (Groove on Fight, Submarine No. 6). Read more to check out some new screens ...

LucasArts officially announced today the exciting details regarding Star Wars Battlefront, an intense open-ended multiplayer action game set in the Star Wars universe due out this fall for the PlayStation2, Xbox and the PC. Star Wars Battlefront will put fans and gamers in the heat of the action as they re-live all of the epic battles from the classic and prequel eras of the Star Wars universe. Read more for the first details and some new screens ...

Star Wars: Republic Commando will present a dramatic military-style action experience from the point-of-view of an elite squad member of a Republic Special Operations unit. Players will step into the role of a Commando performing precision operations deep behind enemy lines in this brutally realistic Star Wars combat experience. Star Wars: Republic Commando is scheduled for release in 2004, in the meantime check these 2 screens ...

According to Bioware producer Derek French a new patch for their Knights of the Old Republic is in the works. While there is absolutle no release date known yet, this upgrade will bring your retail game to v1.02 and will probably add higher screen resolution support, various game play fixes as well as mappable arrow keys, fix for the dialog skipping bug and so forth. You can read more for details and check Derek French's community forum post.

Pterodon has released a new "beta" multiplayer map for their tactical shooter Vietcong. This 'Frontiers' map will be features in the next update patch, but you can have a little sneak peek (thanks Tiscali). Read more for screens & download links ...

Desert Rats vs Afrika Korps is Real-Time Tactical game in full 3D with highly realistic graphics, real time shadows, localised damage effects, explosions, weather effects and much more. Missions range from recon operations in the desert and escort missions to large-scale sieges of desert fortresses. All missions start with a briefing, a recap of the historical background and a management phase. Read more to check out some new screens ...

In Sacred the player can choose from 6 playable characters, each with their own individual characteristics and style. The more reserved role-player might prefer the Battle Mage or the Wood Elf, while admirers of traditional fantasy characters can take on the role of the Gladiator or Dark Elf. If the player fancies a different approach then the Seraphim, a follower of the mystical Angels, or the bloodthirsty Vampiress might clench their thirst. Check out these new screens ..

Another day, another batch of game trailers were released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for :

• Suikoden IV - Trailer
• Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - Trailer
• Resident Evil: Outbreak - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

4DRulers has released a level building SDK for their AMP II engine first person shooter Secret Service Security Breach. This package includes everything needed to create your own content and levels for Secret Service: Security Breach. Read more for download links ...

TKO Software, Inc. has announced the launch of a public beta program for its MMORPG "Ashen Empires." From today, all subscribers can download a free beta license of the game at www.ashenempires.com. The retail launch of Ashen Empires is scheduled for March 2004.

Earlier today we had CDV's 2004 lineup, and it seems Vivendi has now also revealed their upcoming titles. Apart from the anticipated Half Life 2, Men of Valor, X-Files, Tribes Vengeance, World of Warcraft, Ground Control 2, Starcraft Ghost and Evil Genius we also note a few yuet "unannounced" titles such as 2 new Tolkien based titles, yet unnamed Crash Bandicoot and Spyro The Dragon products, a new game based on the Predator franchise and a cryptic discription of a new "Unannounced Pandemic console title" (currently working on Full Spectrum Warirors). Read more for the full list ...

KOEI today announced that it is publishing Crimson Sea 2 exclusively for the PlayStation2. The action-adventure game will ship to North American retailers on March 30, 2004.