Atari and Firaxis Games announced today that Sid Meier's Pirates! for the Xbox is currently in development and is scheduled to release worldwide in spring 2005.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is the first real-time strategy title in THQ's agreement with industry-leading PC development studio Relic Entertainment Inc. Based on the world of Warhammer 40,000 - the dark, futuristic, fantasy universe traveled by millions worldwide from Games Workshop, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is scheduled for release in fall 2004. Read more for some new screens...

Atari today unveiled details behind the upcoming near-future, geopolitical techno-thriller Act of War: Direct Action for PC. Developed by Eugen Systems and with a storyline and game universe created in cooperation with Dale Brown, 15-time New York Times best-selling author and expert on US military, global conflict and future military technology, Act of War: Direct Action is scheduled to be released in Spring 2005.

Pool Shark 2 really does put the "cool into pool", with its fantastic set of characters who will challenge you to hustle in their own unique environments. Characters have been developed in depth and have their own motion capture, and dialogue. Opponents will goad players before and after shots to try and get them to loose their concentration, temper, and ultimately their cash! The dialogue is also styled to each character to add to the mood and atmosphere.

In MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf, developed by original Mech Assault creators Day 1 Studios, gamers will be able to step outside the 'Mech and live the life of a human pilot in a fresh new single player game. Tanks, VTOLs and BattleArmor will offer players plenty of opportunities to rain destruction on their opposition in both single and multiplayer games.

ESPN Videogames today announced that Ben Wallace, the two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, will be featured as the ESPN NBA 2K5 cover athlete and spokesperson. The All-Star center helped drive the Pistons to win the 2003-2004 Finals.

Def Jam Fight For NY challenges players to step into the shoes of a ruthless street fighter battling for control of the hip-hop underground. The game features an all-new fighting engine including weapons, interactive environments and five unique fighting styles that can be combined to form dozens of customized hybrid styles for the ultimate edge on the streets. Def Jam Fight For NY features more than 40 of the most well-known artists and personalities in hip-hop today. Check these new screens & trailers...

Presented in beautifully rendered 3D, Kohan II: Kings of War,a fantasy-based real-time strategy game, allows gamers to lay siege to enemy cities, explore fantastic realms, fight strange creatures, and build a world-spanning empire. Take 2 will be releasing detailed information on each of the races in Kohan II: Kings of War. Read more for details on all of the buildings and units for the Gauri, along with lore and general background info, straight from developer TimeGate Studios.

Guilty Gear Isuka introduces revolutionary upgrades such as 4-player simultaneous fighting, allowing for 2-on-2, 3-on-1 and 2-player co-op battles. The title also adds new characters to a full roster of returning fighters, all-new fight arenas and multiple new modes of play, including an exciting side-scrolling action game called Boost Mode. Read more for new screens and trailer...

Television and film studio Warner Bros. announced today that it has expanded its interactive gaming capabilities by acquiring video game producer Monolith Productions. Read more for details ...