Late Night Consoling

The Financial Times reports that Microsoft is planning to launch Xbox 360 in several additional territories within the next 18 months: Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South Africa. Along with the retail launch will come localized help lines and Xbox Live services, according to Microsoft's Chris Lewis, head of Xbox operations in the specified territories.

Ubisoft has officially announced Red Steel, the Revolution-exclusive title recently revealed in Game Informer. Red Steel is a first person action game featuring both gunplay and swordfighting, set in the modern day world of the Japanese yakuza. The publisher confirmed that the game is indeed launching with the system in November, making it the first confirmed launch title for Western markets. While no new information regarding the game was detailed, Ubisoft confirmed it will be at E3.

The press release refers to Red Steel as a "new franchise," implying that this game is only the first Red Steel title to come. Ubisoft is known for its action franchises, such as Prince of Persia and a variety of Tom Clancy's properties. For more information on Red Steel, check Friday's LNC.

Namco Bandai today announced Eureka Seven Vol. 1: The New Wave for PlayStation 2. The game is a prequel to Bandai's animated mecha-centric series Eureka Seven. It features pilotable robots that transform between humanoid and vehicular shapes, and offers the ability to customize individual robots.

Eureka Seven Vol.1: The New Wave is set to ship this fall.

Australian developer Tantalus Interactive is collaborating with Japanese publisher Kemco on a new game in the Top Gear racing franchise. Top Gear: Downforce is currently in the works for Nintendo DS, following up on Tantalus' well-received 2003 racer Top Gear Rally (GBA). Downforce is a top-down racing game featuring local wireless multiplayer. "We want to create a racing game that feels perfectly at home on the DS platform," said Tantalus CEO Tom Crago, "something built from the ground up to exploit the cool features of the hardware."

Top Gear: Downforce is planned for release in late 2006. More about the game will be revealed at E3.

Nintendo has announced that it will be releasing a sudoku game for Nintendo DS entitled Sudoku Gridmaster (DS). The game will featuring handwriting recognition and 400 puzzles picked by the creators of sudoku. Nintendo's upcoming Brain Age (DS) also features sudoku with handwriting recognition as a side feature, but only with 100 included puzzles. Sudoku Gridmaster will be released June 26.

Funcom has launched the official website for its upcoming adventure sequel, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey (Xbox, PC).

IGN held a contest offering one artist the chance to have his or her work featured in the I Am 8-Bit gaming-oriented art exhibit, and here are the ten finalists, including the grand prize winner.