Simon & Schuster Interactive announced today that "Outlaw Volleyball" has gone gold and has been released to manufacturing (Rated "M" by the ESRB; Xbox Live; shipping: July 8). Developed by New Jersey-based Hypnotix Inc., OUTLAW VOLLEYBALL will deliver a spanking good time with hardcore gameplay, the hottest babes in any videogame, and the trademark humor that the 'Outlaw' series is known for.

Fox Int. & EA have launched the official website for their upcoming sci-fi console game Aliens versus Predator: Extinction. The site sports some new, but tiny, screens, game features, info, trailer and the usual other tidbits. small details about the game & features, several new (low res) screenshots, the first trailer, and more. Aliens versus Predator: Extinction (based loosely on the Aliens & Predator movies) is expected in stores for PS2/Xbox this summer. Go check it out!

Midway Sports Asylum announced today that Freestyle MetalX, the first true freestyle motocross game, has shipped for the PlayStation 2 with the Xbox and the Nintendo GameCube versions to follow.

Gamers can suit up for top-secret covert operations with the release of Activision's highly anticipated first-person action game, Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix, for the Xbox. Based on the critically acclaimed PC title from Raven Software, the game features all of the intense, gritty action found in the original, plus full Xbox Live support for mayhem-packed, all-out multi-player combat. Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix for the Xbox is currently available at North American retail outlets for a suggested retail price of $49.99 and carries an "M" (Mature -- Blood, Violence -- content suitable for persons ages 17 and older) rating by the ESRB.

Moving 'off world', KOCH media is delighted to announce the signing of EGOSOFT's highly anticipated space flight / trading sim - X²: The Threat. With over two years of development time going into the project, the team at EGOSOFT have crafted a dynamic, active universe, in which to immerse the player. Tagged as the "21st Century Elite" by PC ZONE, the game has already received vast amounts of coverage; with press overwhelmed by the quality of graphics and depth of game play. Read more for details and a batch of new screens ...

Namco announced today that the company has signed a five-year exclusive licensing agreement with Hip Games for the rights to publish million unit-selling video game property, Dead to Rights for the PC. Hip Games will begin shipping Dead to Rights PC in North America in fall 2003. Dead to Rights PC will launch in Europe in October 2003 and will be distributed by L.S.P. Read more for details ...

GarageGames announced today it has begun shipping the company’s first two titles, Gadgets (formerly Chain Reaction) and Marble Blaster, to retailers throughout North America. The Windows versions of the games are being published and distributed by eGames through a licensing agreement with GarageGames.

And Patch Monday continues as JoWood has issued not one, but 2 patches for their just released FPS Chaser (only for UK, not available in the US yet). There's an install fix that needs to be run before re-attempting to install the game, and an executable (aka as .exe) fix that provides a new game executable in case the original won't launch the game (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

FINAL FANTASY XI is a massively multiplayer online RPG which is already live in Japan and will be available in North America for both the PlayStation 2 console and PC. Square Enix USA in association with several online magazines is giving you the chance to win a spot on the beta test for FINAL FANTASY XI for PC. This giveaway is open only until 11:59pm on Wednesday, June 25th. While Gamespy only offers slots to its FilePlanet subscribers, Gamespot to its paid subscribers, IGN's Final Fantasy Vault offers the chance to all users, but you have to answer a 10 part questionnaire. If all of this is not enough, Stratics also seems to offer the beta to its paid members. And now also gfx card manufacturers Nvidia, as well as revil ATI are offering free slots,