Microsoft today announced that the new Xbox Live update “Xbox Live Now” is now available for download. "Xbox Live Now" is a free update that gives gamers what they want most: a host of innovative features they can use to interact with friends online. With "Xbox Live Now", gamers are always connected to Xbox Live, so from the moment the Xbox power indicator glows green gamers are plugged into their online network of friends.

A real-time strategy game of epic scope and breadth, Empires: Dawn of the Modern World lets players command legendary civilizations as they battle to forge mighty empires during the days of longbows and charging knights to the awesome land, air and sea battles of WWII involving Tiger Tanks, Storm Troopers, Spitfires, and stealthy submarines. Read more for some 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 :

• Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer - Trailer
• LotR: Return of the King - Trailer
• Chrome - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Ubi Soft Entertainment announced Warlords IV: Heroes of Etheria, its upcoming turn-based strategy game, has gone gold! Warlords IV is a unique blend of role playing and turn-based strategy gaming with a tactical combat system unique to the Warlords franchise. Warlords IV: Heroes of Etheria will be available on the PC in October.

Microids has launched the official website for Benoir Sokal's eagerly anticipated adventure game Syberia 2. The website features story details on Kate Walker's second adventure, some new/small screens and the usual tidbits. Syberia 2 can be expected in Spring 2004 and the website mentions a trailer & demo "coming soon". Head on over there to check all the goodies ...

Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble Studios today announced that Age of Mythology: The Titans has stomped onto store shelves in North America for an estimated retail price of $29.95 (U.S.). International versions are scheduled to be released later in October. Gamers will now be able to take control over the gigantic and super-powerful Titans and use their unique abilities to wreak destruction upon their enemies.

Legacy Interactive announced today that the latest addition to its popular “Law & Order” computer game franchise, Law & Order II: Double or Nothing, has shipped to retail outlets with an SRP of $29.95. Exclusively for PC/CD-ROM, Law & Order II: Double or Nothing is distributed by Vivendi Universal Games and is rated T for Teen. You can also check our Law & Order 2 preview.

Immersion Corp. today released TouchWare Gaming, a breakthrough software product for the PC gaming industry that adds force feedback effects to the vast majority of all PC Windows-based games, whether they were originally designed with force feedback or not.

As the anticipation builds this fall for the third season of "American Idol," fans will be able to get an interactive fix of their favorite program wherever they go, in Codemasters' American Idol video game for Game Boy Advance. The game features celebrity judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell and will also be available for the PS2 and the PC in time for the holiday shopping season.

Your mission is to lead an army of urban guerillas now that Electronic Arts has shipped Freedom Fighters on the PlayStation2, Xbox, GameCube, and PC under its EA GAMES brand. Based on an alternate history in which the Soviet Union won the Cold War and invaded modern-day New York City, Freedom Fighters lets you join and eventually lead a revolution in this third-person action game that unfolds in the besieged streets of New York.