Pterodon has announced that owners of the Vietcong Purple Haze Xbox edition will be able to download a new free multiplayer map pack from the Xbox Live service later today. Vietcong In Country features two new multiplayer maps entitled "Radio Relay" and "The Bridge", which both contain the "assault team game (ATG)", "capture the flag (CTF)", "deathmatch (DM)", "team deathmatch (TDM)" and "real war (RW)" game types, whereas the "Radio Relay" multiplayer map includes the "cooperative (COOP)" game type as an addition. Read more for some screens ...

Metal Combat plans to re-invent the Fighting game genre with physics-based environments and characters, enabling fights with realistic reactions to every blow and destructible environments. The game is scheduled for release later this year for the PC and in the arcade by Solar Studios.

Vivendi today announced that Nexus: The Jupiter Incident is now available. Developed by Mithis Entertainment and published by HD Interactive, Nexus: The Jupiter Incident is a real-time mission-based tactical space game featuring spectacular real-time battles with breathtaking motion picture quality. Players will focus on tactics and action as they control up to 10 battleships encountering aliens, unknown solar systems and other phenomena in the struggle to save Earth.

Step into the shadows of Gotham City's perilous criminal underworld as DC Comics' legendary Dark Knight in the Batman Begins video game. Slated for release day and date with the Warner Bros. Pictures film, Batman Begins challenges players to use fear as their ultimate weapon. Read more for details and features ...

TimeSplitters Future Perfect has gone gold for the PS2, Xbox and GameCube, and will be in stores beginning March 22nd. In TimeSplitters Future Perfect, Cortez - the hero from previous installments - returns with humanity on the brink of destruction. With the help of some familiar faces (some very familiar!) he must chase a mystery foe across different time periods to trace the origins of the TimeSplitters and save the day.

SCAR, a brand new racing simulation licensed by Alfa Romeo, and developed by racing sim specialists, Milestone, creators of the Superbike series and Racing Evoluzione. SCAR, Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo, 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.

Fans who pre-order their copies will receive a Bonus DVD loaded with extras including the Empire Earth II Single-Player Demo, 20 minutes of exclusive behind-the-scenes video, exclusive multiplayer maps, the Empire Earth II Soundtrack, concept artwork, and more. Pre-orders are now being accepted at participating retailers. The pre-order period will last through the April 26th ship date or until supplies last. Please contact your local store to confirm availability of the Pre-Order item in your area.

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

Samurai Western is an action-packed adventure game developed by Spike, the creators of the original Tenchu and The Way of the Samurai series. Featuring improved graphics and a multitude of gameplay additions such as a First Person Mode, an Insane difficulty level, and Bushido Sense, Samurai Western will tar and feather all but the most experienced gamers!

Fresh out in stores, Ubisoft releases the first patch for its submarine sim Silent Hunter 3. This update brings your retail game to v1.1 and addresses various graphical problems, multiplayer issues, and the usual bugs fixes and gameplay tweaks. Read more for details and download links ...