Reports have come in that UK developer Free Radical Design, known for its Timesplitters series, is on the verge of laying off half its staff or closing down altogether, even though co-founder Steve Ellis said not too long ago that the studio was in good shape. When employees showed up this morning, the offices were locked, guards were posted outside, and nobody was let in. Word has it that a meeting is under way explaining the situation, but also that LucasArts' unannounced Star Wars Battlefront 4 has been moved to Rebellion instead. We tried to contact FRD, but the phone and email went unanswered.

UPDATE:This.is.Notthingam reports that FRD has not been closed but is in administration (chapter 11), with Resolve Partners in charge of the proceedings, and a formal announcement to be made when the financial situation has been assessed.

Project Origin continues F.E.A.R.'s supernatural suspense story of an escalating paranormal crisis that threatens to destroy a major American city. Alma now has free reign, and the consequences will be unimaginable.

A post that briefly appeared on the Criterion Web site might have prematurely revealed the Burnout developer's next project, Black: Second Mission, indicating that the FPS, often referred to as gunporn, might be making a return on the PS3, X360 and PC. The first game had you play as Black Ops team leader Jack Kellar, sent into Eastern Europe on a mission to retrieve a traitor.

Capcom's Resident Evil 5 is the forthcoming installment in the Resident Evil survival horror series, which will debut for the PS3 and X360, promising to revolutionize the series by delivering an unbelievable level of detail, realism and control.

Players will soak in the action in SPRay by playing a spirited Prince named Ray who must save his village from a banished evil Queen who’s returned to capture and enslave the villagers.

Warhammer: Mark of Chaos - Battle March builds upon the original's tactical foundation to offer new units for each army as well as an original campaign and new online modes.

WinSPWW2 features true combined arms warfare from 1930 through 1946, an era that saw the theories of J.F.C. Fuller and Giulio Douhet put to the test as the world burned. This v3.5 patch adds new scenarios, maps, provides several fixes, tweaks, and enhancements.

Pinball machines filled the hours of many a teenage day and now that nostalgia can be relived in the comfort of your own home or on the move. Williams Pinball Classics will feature stunningly accurate recreations of the 10 most popular Williams tables.

United Football is a free to play 5-a-side multiplayer football game where each player on the pitch is controlled by a gamer located anywhere around the world.

Equilibrio is a new mesmerizing and gripping, gyrating ball puzzle solving and manipulation game for those that like something a little different. Set in a colorful world the challenge may look simple but Equilibrio tests not only your reflexes but also the brain.

Dutch developer VSTEP has begun working on Ship Simulator 2010 Extremes, the next installment in the Ship Simulator series.

Eternal Eden is a high quality old-school JRPG, featuring a strong cast of characters, an original storyline, and intuitive game play, which appeals to new players of the genre while fans will instantly recognize the mainstays of this old style. Eternal Eden follows the journey of three children as they try to save their world from original sin.

Strategy First invites you to participate in an amazing holiday discount as it is giving 50% off on ALL Strategy First titles hosted on their Web site as well as even greater savings on the "Take no prisoners" pack, which features 20 games for $69.99. This discount will run from Dec. 17 to Jan. 11, 2009.

Join the Peggle Masters on a dreamtime adventure of alter egos and peg-tastic action. Stay up late to aim, shoot and clear orange pegs from over 60 levels, and bask in Extreme Fever glory. Then, take on 60 Challenges for even more rebounding joy!

Another day, another batch of games shipped to stores. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are announcements for:

• Summer Sports 2: Island Sports Party (Wii)
• Neopets Puzzle Adventure (Wii)
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  We will update this throughout the day when new announcements become available. Read more for details ...

More brash and aggressive than his Delta Force squadmate Nomad, you'll experience Psycho’s parallel story during the events of the original, finding that life on the other side of the island is even more intense and explosive than you could have imagined. Crysis Warhead's multiplayer component Crysis Wars, will be available to play for free from Dec. 19th through Dec. 28th.

Capcom's Resident Evil 5 is the forthcoming installment in the Resident Evil survival horror series, which will debut for the PS3 and X360, promising to revolutionize the series by delivering an unbelievable level of detail, realism and control.

Set 500 years after the original, Fable 2 offers even more choices and features, while building on the core gameplay theme of Fable where every choice continually defines who you become, allowing you to truly live the life you choose. Originally scheduled for Dec. 22, the Knothole Island DLC, adding new quests, wondrous items and bizarre characters, has been pushed until late Jan. 2009 due to "unexpected technical difficulties."

Staying true to its early vision, NetDevil has improved upon the original Jumpgate in every way, with a complete graphics update, and the integration of advanced AI features to ensure unpredictable and compelling situations.

Another day, another batch of game trailers was released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for:

• Perimeter 2: New Earth - Trailer #8
• Deadly Creatures [Wii] - Environments Trailer
• ArmA II [PC] - Gameplay Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Apart from renewing its long-term contract with Rockstar Games, Take Two also released its Q4 2008 financial details revealing that GTA IV accounted for 60% of its $1.5 billion annual revenue. Due to Atari's acquisition of Cryptic Studios, Take Two decided to drop Champions Online.

Wheelman will take you on a thrill ride that unfolds throughout the streets of Barcelona, delivering powerful cinematic moments throughout the game's compelling storyline with car chases inspired by Hollywood's most famous action-sequences.

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince you'll engage in exciting wizard duels, mix and brew magical ingredients in Potions class, take to the air to lead the Gryffindor Quidditch team to victory, get sidetracked by Ron's romantic entanglements and journey toward discovering the identity of the Half-Blood Prince.

Take-Two has signed a new incentive compensation program for its Rockstar Games label based on a profit sharing arrangement, and at the same time has entered into new long-term employment agreements with the creative team of its wholly-owned Rockstar Games publishing label until Jan. 31, 2012.

Love puzzle games, but also love an adventure? Now you can have both in one game with Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure, an adventure-puzzle game that adds a new element of fun by combining the action of an adventure game with the challenge of a puzzle game all in one.