Electronic Arts today announced that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban will be the first third-party title to fully utilize the EyeToy technology for the PS2. For the first time, gamers will play as friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as well as Harry Potter, switching between characters and utilizing their key attributes and skills to resolve challenges and overcome enemies. Players will unravel the mystery surrounding Sirius Black and his escape from the infamous wizard prison Azkaban, as they take part in the most exciting and challenging Harry Potter videogame adventure yet.

SpellForce: The Order of Dawn offers a new Single Player Campaign with over 40 hours of gameplay, giving to our fans another episode from our RPS Franchise SpellForce filled with a number of new and original features, like the Co-operative Multiplayer “Free Mode”, where you can join your allies in battling in one of the many maps offered by the campaign. Read more for some new screens ...

In a rapid chain of events, earlier today CDV cancelled the long in development Xbox title "The Kore Gang" and shortly thereafter developer UDS announced they are shutting down business. CDV has posted a 2003 fiscal net loss of 10million Euro and has been cancelling several of their products lately (Psychotoxic and Galaxy Andromeda, now known as Nexus) to focus on a few of their franchises being Codename: Panzers, Cossacks, Blitzkrieg and Breed.

Maintaining law and society order is veteran Headhunter Jack Wade, older, wiser and battle hardened. At his side is the reluctant new sidekick, the rebellious street kid Leeza X. Whether ripping up the highways of the silver metropolis on a super bike or stalking the criminal masterminds of the shadowy underworld, they are led into the greatest danger of their lives and must overcome something much more sinister than a simple human threat. Each must face their darkest fears. Together they must redeem a world facing chaos...

CDV Software Entertainment and City Interactive signed a distribution agreement. CDV will distribute City's upcomming space action game "Project Freedom" in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The game will be released end of April/ beginning May 2004 at SRP of 29,99 EURO.

Digital Jesters is seeking to continue its reputation as one of the UK's foremost publishers of innovative and critically-acclaimed games with the news that it has signed the UK publishing rights to ambitious fantasy sports game Chaos League from French Developer Cyanide. The game is due for release on PC CD-ROM in June 2004. Read more for details & 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 :

• Combat Elite: WWII Paratroopers - Trailer
• Star Wars: Battlefront - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Konami of Europe has confirmed what football fans have wanted to hear for years: that its hugely successful Pro Evolution Soccer franchise is to make its debut on the Xbox. The first Pro Evolution Soccer for Xbox will be released in Q4, 2004, and is certain to wow an all-new audience of fans by adding the fantastic graphics sounds and gameplay that Xbox is known for to the series.

Ground Control 2 : Operation Exodus takes place during the year 2741 AD, roughly 300 years after the events in the original game. The democratic and freedom caring Northern Star Alliance (NSA) is being hard pressed by the warmongering Terran Empire. The war has recently entered a new stage; a brutal and deadly ground war, as the Empire has managed to land their first troopships on the last NSA controlled planet – Morningstar Prime... Read more to check out some new screens ...

Far Cry is set around 2020 on a set of tropical islands in the pacific. And has a strong tropical-paradise feel, scenic in its beauty, but, harbors a terrible threat. It is a mix of jungle / primal / and next-gen technology. As the player you find yourself drawn into a secretive plot involving secret research facilities with scientists involved in military genetic-research, a secret "security" force of mercenaries, and, advanced net-generation weaponry and equipment. Earlier we covered Far Cry's singleplayer portion, now we tackle the multiplayer part ...

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero Steam pre-orders start today and include a special offer for Counter-Strike players. If you already have Steam and wish to pre-order your copy, just double-click on Counter-Strike: Condition Zero in the "Coming Soon" section of your 'My Games' list. If you don't have Steam, install it today. Those who pre-order their copy on Steam can start playing the minute the game is released. For more information, please visit the SteamPowered website.

Vivendi Universal Games in association with Tigon Studios is bringing gamers an intense sci-fi experience from the point-of-view of the most wanted man in the Universe with the new videogame, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay, which will be available on the Xbox. Set before the events of both Universal Pictures' upcoming summer release The Chronicles of Riddick, starring Vin Diesel, and the 2000 cult classic Pitch Black, which first introduced Diesel as enigmatic anti-hero Riddick, the game tells the story of Riddick's dramatic escape from the previously inescapable triple max security slam Butcher Bay, home to the most violent prisoners in the galaxy.

Whiptail has released the multiplayer demo for Mediamobsters RTS game Gangland. This all-new demo gives gamers the opportunity to experience the excitement of Gangland’s multiplayer action first-hand with one 2-player conquest and one 6-player shootout. The full game will feature a total of 16 Conquest and 12 Challenge Missions as well as 24 multiplayer maps for up to 8 players. Read more for downlaod links ...

SCEA and 989 Sports announced today that it has signed one of Major League Baseball's premier third basemen to grace the cover of its MLB 2005 videogame, due to hit store shelves in March 2004, for the PlayStation2 and PlayStation1. Read more for details ...

Funcom and Alienware Corporation have agreed to form a strategic partnership, benefiting both companies in their aim to be market leaders in their respective fields. Alienware PCs are known amongst gamers as the "Ultimate Gaming Machines" and Anarchy Online has been called "The Greatest MMORPG on the market". The synergy between the companies is obvious, and both companies foresee a longer term relationship developing. The first step of the partnership will see mutually beneficial marketing activities running through September of 2004.

Developed by Rebellion, 'Ironstorm: World War Zero'is an all-action first-person title spanning 19 war-torn stages. Presenting an alternate history concept at the heart of its plot, Ironstorm is set in a shattered 1964 where the first World War never ended. The pivotal Russian October Revolution has seen history diverted as the insane Baron Ungenberg has crushed the Bolshevik charge.

Digital Jesters has released a demo for their upcoming Pro Rugby Manager 2004 product, allowing the management game fans have a taste of what is to come when Pro Rugby Manager 2004. The demo covers three weeks of play at the start of the season and gamers will get the chance to play the colourful NEC Harlequins in two fabulous 3D stadiums. Read more for download links ...

In2Games today announces that it will showcase the remarkable Gametrak control system and games at the forthcoming Game Developers' Conference (GDC) in San Jose, California, 24-26 March 2004. Over four years in development, Gametrak will launch in August 2004, bundled with the hotly tipped Black Wind, the world's first first person beat-em up for PS2. Dispensing with fiddly joysticks and confusing buttons, Black Wind tracks your hands as you punch, block and main your way through the action. Read more for details...

What would James Bond do? That’s the question players will answer in every dramatic moment of James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, as the world’s greatest secret agent returns in his fifth interactive adventure under the EA GAMES brand. First, you will think like Bond, using espionage, tactical skills, and gadgets from the Q-Lab to analyze your situation. Then you will act like Bond, using his stylish physical skills, clever subterfuge, and bold personality to once again save the world.

SCEA announced today the September 2004 release of Sly 2: Band of Thieves, a comic crime caper, action-adventure game designed exclusively for the PlayStation2. Created by Seattle-based developer, Sucker Punch Productions, Sly 2: Band of Thieves incorporates many of Sucker Punch's signature talents including award winning toon-shaded animation and art direction, visual style, immersive storylines, strong characters, and highly interactive worlds. Read more to check out 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 :

• Sacred - Trailer
• Soldner: Secret Wars - Trailer
• Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm - Trailer
• Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Ramses is doomed by what appears to be an evil curse surrounding this pact. His fate lies in the hands of one… Maia, a beautiful young sorceress favoured by the gods. If she fails to uncover the mystery, Ramses will die, and with him Egypt shall fall. This first person adventure has an easy to use point-and-click interface with high quality cinematics, and integrated 3D real-time puzzles. Read more for new screens and trailer ...

KOEI Corporation today announced that Naval Ops: Commander has shipped to North American retail outlets, and is in stores now.

During a presentation at Bear-Stearns 17th Annual Media, Entertainment and Information Conference EA's CFO Warren Jensen revealed that EA is on its first "M' rated title in over 3 years (ever since Clive Barker's Undying ) based on The Godfather series of mob films. No further details were given as to what type of game (FPS, RTS), who is developing it or what platforms it will appear on (thanks HomeLAN). Now that the cat is out of the bag, EA's PR folks will most likely issue an official statement shortly...

Crytek developers and Ubi Soft will participate in an IRC chat Thursday beginning at 4 p.m. EST to promote their upcoming first person shooter Far Cry. The chat can be accessed via an IRC client at server irc.beyondirc.net, channel #FarCry.