The Steam-administered beta of Half-Life 1.1.0.9 and Counter-Strike 1.4 are almost finished, and the final versions of these updates will be released to the public next week. Hurray for THAT! 'Read more' for details.

Soldier of Fortune 2: Double Helix is the ultra-realistic sequel to the groundbreakings hit from Raven Software. Based on the popular military-enthusiast magazine, Soldier of Fortune 2 offers the most realistic covert-operative FPS experience ever. The test gives gamers a chance to compete in one map across four different game modes including deathmatch, team deathmatch, elimination and infiltration. Gamers who choose to participate in the test will also have access to 20 skins and all the weapons available in the multiplayer portion of the full game. Click Read More for links.

Nothing we did not know yet but now its official! CDV Software Entertainment, one of the leading German publishers and distributors of gaming software, today announced "Sudden Strike II" for the PC. Critically acclaimed as "a rare gem," the original "Sudden Strike" sold 650,000 copies worldwide. Now the sequel, "Sudden Strike II," returns players to World War II battlefields with all-new campaigns and 50 never-before-seen units. CDV has added Japan to the list of playable nations in the real-time strategy game, including Germany, Russia, Great Britain and the United States. "Sudden Strike II" is scheduled to ship late August 2002.

TDK Mediactive, Inc. just announced an exclusive three-year, renewable worldwide licensing agreement with Jim Henson Interactive, a division of The Jim Henson Company, for the Muppets”, one of the most prolific brands in the entertainment industry. The agreement ensures TDK Mediactive exclusive rights to develop and publish games based on many of the Classic Muppet characters, including Kermit the Frog”, Miss Piggy”, Fozzie Bear”, The Great Gonzo” and more. Platforms covered by the license agreement include the PSOne and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Nintendo GameCube, the Game Boy® Advance and PC platforms.

Kate Walker, a young and brilliant lawyer from New York, has come to Europe to negotiate the purchase a famous Robot/Toy factory, but will soon have her future completely turned upside down… Check the new screens

Activision, Inc. is taking gamers back to the dark ages with the announcement that the company will be publishing Creative Assembly's Medieval: Total War for the PC, due soon. As the sequel to the highly acclaimed Shogun: Total War, the game challenges players to reshape the history of the Middle Ages through a combination of epic real-time 3D battles and turn based empire building. Check the 15 new screens we just got in ...

Sony is hard at work on the forthcoming release of the game that promises to deliver the most realistic and enjoyable footballing experience on PlayStation 2, This Is Football 2002. Licensed by FIFPro, the official world-wide organisation representing professional footballers, the game features real player names and skills. Players will now be able to take full control of their football heroes. Check the screens!

Ubi Soft Entertainment, unveiled today the latest creation inspired by the works of world renowned novelist Tom Clancy. Splinter Cell is a third person stealth action game, featuring cyber-terrorism, shadow agencies, and covert operations and is set in the realistic, highly detailed geopolitical universe as portrayed in the works by Tom Clancy. In the fall of 2002, Ubi Soft will debut this lone stealth action game worldwide on the Xbox and PC, with further new generation platforms following in 2003. Update: More screens is added!

Strategy First just informed us that they released a new patch for Disciples II: Dark Prophecy. This new upgrade brings your game version to v1.3. It has some minor fixes over the last version 1.2a. Read more for a detailed list and links on where to grab the patches (it comes in 2 versions, full and lite)

Earlier today we announced that Strategy First and Third Wire Productions signed a worldwide publishing agreement for their highly anticipated flight simulation game, Strike Fighters: Project 1, scheduled for release later this summer. And here we are already with the first 20 or so screens showing off a boat load of the Fighters that will be in the game...