Ubisoft announced today the availability of a new Versus multiplayer map for Splinter Cell Chaos Theory. Steel Squat, set in Brooklyn, New York, is now available for free download for both PC & Xbox (through Xbox Live), and features innovative level design that combines both indoor and outdoor gameplay that pushes the capabilities of both Spies and Mercenaries to their limits. Read more for download links ...

About a week ago we reported that Assembly Speaker Leland Yee blasted the ESRB for failing to appropriately rate GTA: SA. Since then the ESRB and its Australian counterpart have initiated investigations into the alleged graphic scenes featuring oral sex, nudity, and simulated intercourse. Today Rockstar finally reacted with a statement saying that "only by disassembling and then combining, recompiling and altering the game's source code have hackers been able to create the Hot Coffee mod. Without intentional and significant technical modifications and reverse engineering of the game's source code this explicit content is not available in the retail product." Read more for the full statement...

Magic Hat Software announced today that the second Beta test for its MMORPG Irth Online begins today and is expected to run through August 12, 2005. Gamers are encouraged to apply for Beta 2 on the Irth Online website.

Wartime Command: Battle For Europe 1939-1945 is a stunning World War II tactical RTS game from Russian developers 1C Company. Set to be the most authentic and compelling tactical real time strategy game ever designed, Wartime Command will excel in detail and accuracy, especially in its portrayal of period weapons of war. Citing too many delays, and problems with idea implementations, Codemasters has decided to remove Wartime Command (aka WW II RTS) from its catalogue, and will no longer be publishing it. 1C Company is still developing, although without publisher backing, the future of the project is up in the air.

Blizzard has released a new update for its MMORPG World of Warcraft. This update is currently only for French, German and UK editions of the game, adds a new high-level Blackwing Lair dungeon, new Darkmoon Faire, Battlemasters feature, and a slew of gameplay adjustments, bug fixes and other goodies. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

The Hollywood Reporter revealed today that Majesco is working on a video game based on Marvel's Ghost Rider comic series, and will be released at the same time as the movie, summer 2006. Being developed by UK's Climax, Ghost Rider will have players face off against such villains as Blackheart and Mephistopheles. Players will be able to ride the Hell Cycle on water and boost over jumps. The third-person perspective game also will feature such weapons as the Hellfire Chain and Hellfire Shotgun. Comic scribes Garth Ennis and Jimmy Palmiotti are penning the game's story, which will pick up after the events in the upcoming film and provide an interactive sequel featuring cult superhero Ghost Rider.

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. Far Cry Instincts will ship for Xbox in September 2005.

Ubisoft has released a new patch for Gearbox's WW2 tactical FPS Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30. This v1.10 SDK suite contains the EnrealEd edition for BiA, dedicated server support, required docs, sample content, etc. Read more for download links...

Beginning with the attack on Pearl Harbor, this flight combat game puts players in the middle of some of the most intense naval conflict in WWII’s Pacific Theater. Check out the new screens, or download the new video showing ingame footage...

A post on his own website confirms rumors which surfaced yesterday about Romero no longer working at Midway. "Hey guys, I can definitely confirm that I have left Midway - I've been gone for about 3 weeks and Rhaluka and I have been traveling around and having fun together (a sort of honeymoon without going to tropical destinations). Midway says that development of Gauntlet hasn't been impacted by my departure and is scheduled to ship this fall. I can't say anything more about the situation and hope you all understand. I'm currently looking at lots of exciting developments right now and it'll be a couple months before I can announce my next destination."