Blazing Souls is a new RPG under development at Idea Factory, much in the same vein as Makai Kingdom or Shining Tears. Currently only scheduled for released in Japan, Blazing Souls is expected end of January 2006. If you are familiar with Japanese, check out the official website, or just read more to check out the quite nice 2D graphics featured in the game.

Back at E3 2005 Sony showed the first glimpses of a new title in the Syphon Filter franchise, but did not disclose any details, up until today. Syphon Filter : Dark Mirror is scheduled to be released in North America spring 2006 and will not only see the return of Gabe Logan, but also Theresa, Lipan et Lian Xing. The PSP version will allow you to give commands to the rest of your team a la SOCOM, and a multiplayer wi-fi mode is also par of the new features. Sony promises near PS2 quality graphics due to the usage of streaming technology. More details soon ...

BluesNews has word that Blizzard is already accepted beta test signups for its new project, to be unveilved at BlizzCon. "We haven't yet announced what title will be tested, but we welcome you to enter your code now and confirm your spot! Along with the code located on the back of your BlizzCon card, please enter a valid eMail address that will be active for some time. As it may be a while before the invitations are sent for this beta test, we want to make sure you'll receive your invite!"

ZuxxeZ has released a new patch for its RTS Earth 2160. This upgrade brings your German/French/English retail game to v1.3.7, synchonizes your game with the upcoming US version, improves stability, fixes voice transmission problems, adds some UI changes and fixes a problem where enemy units sometimes visible in "fog of war". Read more for details fix list and download links ...

Vivendi and HD Publishing today announced an exclusive worldwide agreement for the modern day warfare RTS game, Joint Task Force. Under the agreement, VU Games will co-publish, market and distribute HD Publishing’s Joint Task Force for the PC in 2006 under the Sierra brand.

KOCH Media has released the first patch for EgoSoft's space-combat exploration game X³: REUNION. This update brings your UK retail game to v1.2 and adds more joystick support, fixes voice and audio synchronisation, performance optimisations, better cutscenes and menu system, the usual crash and bug fixes, etc..

Final Fantasy XI is the first online game in the award-winning Final Fantasy series. How you play is up to you, with limitless possibilities for adventure. Set out on your own to discover the countless secrets of Vana'diel, or form a party with your friends to purge the beastman forces and bring home sensational spoils!

BBC News revealed that British Member of Parliament Keith Vaz is going after Roickstar's upcoming title Bully claiming that the game will inspire violence among schoolchildren. Vaz has approached the House of Commons stating his concern about Rockstar's decision to publish a new game in which players use their on-screen persona to kick and punch other schoolchildren, asking that the game should be treated like a violent film, and should go before the British Board of Film Classification or be banned completely. A Rockstar rep told the BBC that just as books aren't judged by their covers, video games shouldn't be judged by their titles or individual scenes. To Be Continued ...

Atari revealed today revealed the first details of what is an expansion pack for Eugen Systems' RTS Act of War. While there is no official name for the addon just yet, Atari did disclose it will expand into naval warfare with over a dozen different vessels, such as AEGIS cruisers, frigates, aircraft carriers and submarines. Less scripting, better AI and camera handling. More details surely to come soon, but in the meantime, check the first four screens ...

Vicious Cycle Software announced that it has officially joined the Sony Computer Entertainment Tools and Middleware program for PSP. The company will offer its Vicious Engine toolset to developers and publishers of games for the PSP platform as a licensed middleware solution.