Atari announced today that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Spark Unlimited for worldwide publishing rights across all media to all future titles developed by the award-winning creative team at Spark Unlimited, the studio behind the recent hit console game Call of Duty: Finest Hour.

Jowood today revealed that it is working on a new episode in the Panzer Elite franchise, first started by the now defunct Wings Simulations. Panzer Elite Action is a fact action-packed WW2 action on Xbox, PS2 and PC, that lets the player command increasingly powerful tanks in a series of intense and dramatic battles. Panzer Elite Action features 18 missions in France, Poland and Russia, and 7 multiplayer maps. More details are promised later this month ...

The second release of the Musashi series makes its debut on the PS2 featuring exhilarating, fast-paced, action-packed gameplay utilizing manga shaded graphics. Like a true samurai, Musashi's powers of observation will pay off in the heat of battle as he channels this energy to learn his opponents' techniques. A new mode of his protective services has also been employed, in which he literally carries his characters to safety. Square Enix launched the official Musashi: Samurai Legend website, head on over there for all the latest info ...

Sierra Entertainment announced today that its has launched the official Empire Earth II website, MadDoc's historical real-time strategy game. The site will thrill fans with the latest screenshots, news, and behind-the-scenes videos from this upcoming epic. Empire Earth 2 will build upon the award-winning formula of its predecessor by adding features requested both by casual game players interested in a brief spin through history and by more hard core gamers who demand a real-time strategy game that will challenge them for dozens, if not hundreds, of hours.

Midway Games today announced the official AREA 51 Web site is now live. Exploding with fresh content, FPS fans and conspiracy theorists alike can now access an extensive amount of screenshots, video featurettes, trailers, character bios and much more. AREA 51 is scheduled to ship for the PlayStation2, the Xbox and PC on April 25, 2005.

Spring 1945: World War 2 is drawing to a close and the Russians and Germans are caught in a furious battle for a devastated Berlin. The cold war starts... As a sniper, recruited by the OSS (former CIA), it is the beginning of a lonely stealth mission in the Russian territory. In development since 2003, Sniper Elite is a sniping/stealth game due to be released on PS2, PC and Xbox May 2005.

Vivendi has released an updated singleplayer demo for Mithis Games' real-time mission-based tactical space game Nexus: The Jupiter Incident allowing you to try out one mission (not available in the game), playable on three difficulty levels. Read more for download links ...

Future Games, previously known for Black Mirror, is working on an all new horror/adventure game, Nibiru: Messenger of the Gods. You take on the role of Martin Holan, an Thechz archeologist working in France sent to investigate a newly found secret tunnel apparently made by Germans during the second World War. Nibiru is a 2D adventure featuring 80 locations, over 30 NPCs, and 50 pages of narrative. People who can't wait for the English wewbsite, can head on over to the German version and check up on some wallpapers, trailer and other game information.

Valusoft has released the first patch for SCS Software's latest hunting game Hunting Unlimited 3. This update brings you retail game to v1.2 and fixes visibility problems. Read more for details and download links ...

Midway today announced the official kick-off of the Unreal Championship2: The Liandri Conflict pre-sell program at select retailers nationwide through which gamers can now pre-order their copy of Unreal Championship 2 and receive a free "Xbox Live enabled UC2 demo disc instantly". Also included in the pre-sell offer are three (3 out of 12) character collector trading cards. Midway also announced that the official UC2 website is now live.

The third in the series of ultra realistic war games from Digital Jesters, 1944: Battle of the Bulge uses Digital Reality's acclaimed RTS engine, which has consistently delivered explosive gameplay coupled with historical accuracy. 1944: Battle of the Bulge covers 20 new single player missions, featuring battles playable from either side of the war. Digital Jesters has launched the official Battle of the Bulge website.

Variety is reporting that Microsoft recently completed a million dollar deal to secure the services of Alex Garland, 28 Days Later and The Beach writer, who is now in the process of penning a screenplay for Halo The Movie. Once the script is complete and signed off by Microsoft, it will be sold to a studio with ex-Columbia Pictures President Peter Schlessel keeping a close eye on the proceedings (thanks VE3D).

LEGO Star Wars combines two childhood favorites, LEGO and Star Wars, to create an innovative and exciting action-adventure title designed for young gamers. The game is based on The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and the eagerly awaited Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, slated for worldwide release in May 2005. In the meantime, check out the freshly launched LEGO Star Wars website...

Namco announced today it has partnered with Hori U.S.A. to offer a limited edition TEKKEN 5 premium bundle set to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the fighting franchise. The bundle will retail for $99.99 and include a copy of the game, a Hori customized peripheral and a special six-disc collectors DVD case for storage of all games in the TEKKEN franchise. TEKKEN 5 and its limited edition premium bundle will be available in stores in Q1 2005.

Ubisoft has launched the official Cold Fear website, head on over there for a gruesome inside-look into Darkworks survival horror title and find all the most up-to-date content and assets about the game and to participate in community forums.

Based on the DC Comics/Vertigo Hellblazer graphic novels, the supernatural thriller Constantine tells the story of John Constantine, a man who has literally been to hell and back. Constantine is being developed by Bits Studios and is based on the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures film starring Keanu Reeves, due in February 2005. SCi has launched the official Constantine website.

Valusoft has released the first patch for SCS Software's latest hunting game Hunting Unlimited 3. This update brings you retail game to v1.1 and fixes a few bugs, enlarges the trophy collection, and elephants no longer take a fixed number of shots to kill (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for details and download links ...

Tekken 5 brings back the popular cast of characters from the previous Tekken games, along with three new characters, for a total of 20 default characters to start and more to unlock as players progress in the game. Tekken 5 allows players to use their fight money to customize their characters with various accessories such as hats, glasses and an assortment of different costumes. Check the freshly launched official Tekken 5 website for news, visual and all the latest updates...

Galactic Civilizations II: Dreadlords isn't just some v2.0 of the same game, it's a significant departure in terms of gameplay. You can pre-order Galactic Civilizations II now by clicking on the purchase link on the left. You get a discount on the price (the final SRP is expected to be $49.95) and you'll be able to get the March beta of the game (thanks Blues). Head on over to the official GalCiv2 website for news, info, screens and dev journals.

Activision has released the final v1.51b patch for its WW2 based FPS Call of Duty: United Offensive which resolves an exploit that can be used to crash servers, and resolves an issue with non-functioning Machine gun on mp_bocage. This is a server side only patch. If you do not plan on hosting a server, there is no need to download and install it. Read more for download links ...

Devil May Cry 3 unfolds an earlier chapter in Dante's history, before the original Devil May Cry, to the fateful clash between Sparda's twin sons, divided by the divergence of their chosen paths. Along the way, Dante encounters formidable foes and unusual characters including a mysterious man named Arkham and a female hunter named Lady whose mission is to take down all demons, including Dante. Capcom has launched the official Devil May Cry 3 website, so head on over there for the latest news, screens and updates.

SWAT 4 allows players to take control of a squad of up to five police officers tasked with performing dangerous operations such as high-risk arrests, hostage rescue and counter-terrorism. Vivendi has just launched the official SWAT 4 website, Irrational Games' tactical shooter. Head on over there for news, game info, screenshots, or sign up for the SWAT 4 newsletter.

EBGames is now offering a Jade Empire Limited Edition which will feature an extra character and combat style w/ Foil Outer Wrap. Order and receive a Jade Empire demo and "Making of" DVD! Disc also includes demos of Forza, MechAssault 2, and Conkers. Jade Empire is set in a new fantastical world based on mythical China, where sinister events have upset the peaceful harmony of an isolated martial arts school. Featuring furious action previously found only in Hong Kong cinema, the game lets players master more than 30 fighting styles and a wide range of mystical powers.

Will of Steel is a modern warfare tactical 3D Real Time Strategy game set in the early 1990s. As a young Marine officer, William Steel is the son of the highly decorated USMC General Thomas Steel. Players must assume command and responsibility of the battalion at his control and defeat your opposing in forces in hostile locations around the globe. Head on over to the official Will of Steel website for the latest screens, movies, artwork and gameplay information.

Excalibur Publishing has launched the dedicated website for its fantastic 3-D Space RPG Star Wolves, featuring information about this fantastic 3-D Space RPG, screen shots and a high and medium resolution trailer. A one-level playable demo will be available from January 24th, and we will of course have it mirrored on our fileserver network as soon as it becomes available.