Ritual managed to shock a lot of people last week when it announced its sudden acquisition by casual games developer/puyblisher MumboJumbo, putting the future of its SiN Episodes in question. An inhouse Q&A reveals we might see Episode 2 somewhere down the line, "What we plan to do right now, both Ritual and MumboJumbo, is establish ourselves in the casual gaming market with strong new franchises and then return to SiN at a later date. We love SiN, make no mistake, and we definitely want to return to it."

Ritual revealed today that it is lowering the retail/download price for its episodic FPS SiN Episodes. Originally on sale for $19.95, it has now been reduced by $5 and for just $14.95 you will get the first episode Emergence, SiN 1 (including Multiplayer), the Arena Modes map, as well as the forthcoming SiN Episodes Multiplayer mode.

Ritual Entertainment has just released the SDK for 'SiN Episodes: Emergence' over Steam. The SDK allows players to create new single-player levels, new Arena Mode maps, and additional content for the 'SiN Episodes' universe. The SDK can be installed from the Tools tab inside the Steam client.

Valve's SteamPowered website has been updated with details on a minor Red Orchestra fix addressing a recoil issue caused by the last patch, and the promised Sin Episodes: Emergence update adding the arena mode with 4 maps, as well as several tweaks, fixes ansd adjustments. Read more for details, or just restart Steam for the effects to take place.

Ritual has released another developer diary, in blog format, with information and media for the new Arena mode update coming soon, details for an upcoming patch for Sin Episode 1, information about their statistics tracking website, SDK / Developer Wiki information, SiN Episode 2 details, and an E3 2006 summary of events.

A community update from SiN Episodes' lead desginer Shawn Ketcherside reveals that Ritual plans to release an SDK, Arena Mode, and Multiplayer for free to Emergence players. Plans are to release 3 episodes per storyline, wrapping up the main quest, but leaving questions unanswered for future expansions. For Episode 2 Ritual will update the game engine with the latest Source code, and based on community feedback, will adjust the story line, and give people more Blade time.

In an interview with Ain't It Cool News, Ritual's VP of development Tom Mustaine revealed that they are looking into bringing its episodic game to next-gen consoles. "We’re gunna do a 360 version at some point in the future. We haven’t finalized those plans yet so I haven’t really announced it yet. But we will be doing it. We also are hoping to be doing a PS 3 version as well. We were looking at Marketplace for the 360 because episodic on Marketplace would make a lot of sense."

Originally scheduled for end of 2005, the official website indicates it has now been pushed back to "early 2006." SiN Episodes features the highly anticipated return of Elexis Sinclaire, the world's most dangerous and seductive biochemist, and the only man who stands in her way, John R. Blade. The sworn enemies face off in Freeport City, a near-future mixture of San Francisco, Tokyo and New York, all set inside the unrestricted SiN universe.

SiN Episodes features the highly anticipated return of Elexis Sinclaire, the world's most dangerous and seductive biochemist, and the only man who stands in her way, John R. Blade. The sworn enemies face off in Freeport City, a near-future mixture of San Francisco, Tokyo and New York, all set inside the unrestricted SiN universe. If you are interested, there's a new fan-submitted questions interview.

SiN Episodes features the highly anticipated return of Elexis Sinclaire, the world's most dangerous and seductive biochemist, and the only man who stands in her way, John R. Blade. The sworn enemies face off in Freeport City, a near-future mixture of San Francisco, Tokyo and New York, all set inside the unrestricted SiN universe.

Ritual Entertainment let us know that they have updated the Sin Rituals website with some new concept art, and a dev. blog, but more importantly, a multiplayer survey, which will allow the community to help shape the SiN Episodes multiplayer experience. SiN Episodes features the highly anticipated return of Elexis Sinclaire, the world's most dangerous and seductive biochemist, and the only man who stands in her way, John R. Blade. The sworn enemies face off in Freeport City, a near-future mixture of San Francisco, Tokyo and New York, all set inside the unrestricted SiN universe. Ritual Entertainment let us know that they have updated the Sin Rituals website with some new concept art, and a dev. blog, but more importantly, a multiplayer survey, which will allow the community to help shape the SiN Episodes multiplayer experience.

SiN Episodes features the highly anticipated return of Elexis Sinclaire, the world's most dangerous and seductive biochemist, and the only man who stands in her way, John R. Blade. The sworn enemies face off in Freeport City, a near-future mixture of San Francisco, Tokyo and New York, all set inside the unrestricted SiN universe. These are the same screens as previously released, except now in high res format ...

SiN Episodes features the highly anticipated return of Elexis Sinclaire, the world's most dangerous and seductive biochemist, and the only man who stands in her way, John R. Blade. The sworn enemies face off in Freeport City, a near-future mixture of San Francisco, Tokyo and New York, all set inside the unrestricted SiN universe.

SiN Episodes features the highly anticipated return of Elexis Sinclaire, the world's most dangerous and seductive biochemist, and the only man who stands in her way, John R. Blade. The sworn enemies face off in Freeport City, a near-future mixture of San Francisco, Tokyo and New York, all set inside the unrestricted SiN universe.

Ritual Entertainment today announced the development of SiN Episodes, featuring the highly anticipated return of Elexis Sinclaire, the world's most dangerous and seductive biochemist, and the only man who stands in her way, John R. Blade. The sworn enemies face off in Freeport City, a near-future mixture of San Francisco, Tokyo and New York, all set inside the unrestricted SiN universe.