The explorers from Ubisoft sent out an expansive press release today stating that their exploitation and extermination series The Settlers will continue to increase its horizon come spring 2010 with The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom.

Developed by Blue Byte, the game will contain the usual fine-tuning of settlements to optimize transport and production as well as three paths to victory – military, science and trade – and a new victory points system.

Also, it will have a new graphics engine for you graphics whores and improved AI that will offer “unique behaviors”. Multiplayer is not ignored either, with new modes being added along with leaderboard and DLC support.

Sega has announced a batch of DLC for its critically acclaimed strategy RPG Valkyria Chronicles, revealing that three pieces of downloadable content will be released, each slated to arrive sometime this spring.

• Hard EX Mode – fight your way once again through the entire Imperial army, where the enemies are more lethal and your main tank Edelweiss is unavailable. You’ll have to be more strategic in order to overcome your opponents.
• Edy’s Mission "Enter the Edy Detachment" - six members have been separated from Squad 7 and on their journey to reunite with their squad, they stumble upon a tiny village under attack by the Imperial Army. Play as Edy and command your outnumbered team to defend the small village from annihilation.
• Selvaria’s Mission "Behind Her Blue Flame"- Taking place right after the outbreak of Gallian battle lines, you play as Johann, a young and meek engineer assigned to Selvaria’s troop. See the action as it unfolds behind enemy lines and see the war play out through the eyes of the enemy.

No pricing was mentioned in the announcement.

The English-language demo for Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943 has been released by 1C Company and Battlefront. It offers an all-new mission from the US campaign, as well as one tutorial mission. Grab it from Battlefront’s website, AtomicGamer, ComputerGames.ro, FileFront, Gamer’s Hell and Strategy Informer.

A playable demo for Hysteria Hospital: Emergency Ward is also now available. The full game is due out on PC and Wii this May. Grab the 74MB demo from AtomicGamer, FileFront and Gamer’s Hell.

Today’s last demo is of The Maw, offering a sample of the recently released action adventure game. Grab it from Greenhouse, AtomicGamer, ComputerGames.ro, FileFront and Gamer’s Hell.

With GDC scheduled for later this month, publisher Paradox Interactive announced that they will be present at the San Francisco event, along with their lineup of development teams who will be on hand to showcase their titles.

These are the games will be open for demo opportunities during the show:

Hearts of Iron III
The eagerly anticipated third instalment in the critically acclaimed World War II strategy series, Hearts of Iron III will feature a plethora of brand new features to satisfy veteran and novice players alike, including a huge game map with more than 14,000 land and sea provinces. At GDC, Hearts of Iron III will be at the beta stage of development where all functionality of the game will be present. The development team will be on hand to demonstrate every aspect of the game. Hearts of Iron III is scheduled for release in Q3.

Majesty 2
The long overdue sequel for the beloved real-time strategy classic is finally approaching completion. With nothing else out there quite like it, the world of Majesty 2 is full of charm along with a unique sense of humour where the player only has indirect control of the characters and units. The independent thinking Heroes are just as likely to go shopping as they are to fight monsters and undertake heroic quests! Majesty 2 will make you think in totally new ways. Majesty 2 is scheduled for release in Q2.

Elven Legacy
Elven Legacy is a fantasy strategy game that sends players on an epic quest aimed to restore the former glory of the Elven race, and delivers a world filled with magic. The game has a thrilling non-linear storyline with multiple endings. Elven Legacy also offers tools that allow players to create their own missions and campaigns and share them in multiplayer mode. Elven Legacy is scheduled for an April release.

Mount & Blade Multiplayer Expansion
The first expansion pack for the critically acclaimed Mount & Blade introduces an array of brand new features, highlighted by a multiplayer capability that allows up to 32 players to battle it out in team death-match style combat on a single map. Additional features of the expansion include improved strategic AI, extended diplomatic options, and state-of-the-art rendering technologies. The Mount & Blade Expansion is scheduled for release in Q3.

Today’s first demo comes from Certain Affinity, who offers a playable peek at Age of Booty, their casual real-time strategy title. It’s a 103 MB download from AtomicGamer, ComputerGames.ro, FileFront, Gamer’s Hell and Strategy Informer.

The second demo is of Project Aftermath, which was recently updated to v1.16. The updated demo can be downloaded from AtomicGamer, FileFront, Gamer’s Hell, and Gamesonice, whereas the manual patch can be grabbed from FileFront and Gamer’s Hell.

Today’s last patch is of Grand Ages: Rome, which has been updated to v1.10. This version includes difficulty adjustments, UI improvements, multiplayer fixes and more. Grab it from AtomicGamer, FileFront, Gamer’s Hell, Gamesonice, Strategy Informer and The Patches Scrolls.

Atlus today announced that it has secured the North American publishing rights for Knights in the Nightmare, an upcoming RPG/RTS for the DS. The game will have players “embrace something altogether new and fresh,” according to their press release, and that it will offer both tactical gameplay and a ‘captivating’ narrative.

It will combine strategy RPG, real-time strategy and shooter elements. There will be over 100 playable characters and the story will be told from two perspectives, having players step into the shoes of the antagonist, too.

The game is scheduled for release on June 2 for $35.

Publisher Stardock has finally given a solid release date for the first expansion to Sins of a Solar Empire: due to incorporation of beta feedback, the oft-delayed title can now be expected on February 25.

"The additional time will allow for Ironclad’s development team to incorporate feedback to date and allow for another round of beta testing," said a company representative.

Dubbed “Entrenchment”, the add-on is currently available for pre-order on Impulse for $9.95.

A v1.1 patch for Sins of a Solar Empire is now live after an extended beta testing period. The new version includes several enhancements, including network improvements, upgrades to graphics performance, improved graphics, mini-underground window, balance tweaks, AI fixes, and more.

This change log outlines all the changes made through the update. It can be downloaded through Stardock’s Impulse platform.

Speaking at a Microsoft press event last week, Ensemble designer Graeme Devine stated definitely that there won’t be a Halo Wars for Windows despite rampant speculation that the Halo-themed RTS would end up on PC.

While he does state it, Devine also noted that the final decision rests on Microsoft: "Zero. Never. I’m going to go on the record and say never ever! Microsoft may go and announce it, but I’ll say never."

As for Ensemble’s successor, Devine commented that an announcement is coming soon and that a “new studio [is] forming that will rise from Ensemble.”

A new trailer for Kingdom Under Fire II is now online, offering a look at the upcoming massively multiplayer online action real-time strategy game (did that make sense to you?).

The game is due out sometime in 2009 for PC and Xbox 360.

Square Enix and Gas Powered Games today announced the development of Supreme Commander 2, sequel to the well-received real-time strategy game from Chris Taylor and GPG.

"Gas Powered Games is an accomplished development house that has demonstrated its ability to successfully create and develop intellectual properties," said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc.. "We are extremely excited to begin working with Gas Powered Games’ talented personnel and see this strategic partnership as a significant step in our efforts to bring Square Enix titles to a broader global audience."

No other details were given.

THQ today announced Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor, a new standalone chapter in the popular RTS franchise from Relic Entertainment. The game will offer three new campaigns, as well as new units, multiplayer modes and a “direct-fire” feature that allows more tactical control during battle.

In development at series creator Relic Entertainment, the game will be fully compatible with its predecessor and utilized the developer’s in-house Essence engine.

It is expected to be out during spring 2009.

Marking its development status, EA today announced that the open beta for BattleForge, an upcoming MMO, will begin on November 7. In development at Phenomic, the game has players trade virtual cards to build their army and waste their enemies.

”After three years in development, we are very excited to open the game to a mass audience and see how people play. It’s going to be a great process watching players experience the revolutionary concept of creating their own armies and teaming up on a massive scale in RTS,” said Volker Wertich, Creative Director.

BattleForge features both single-player and cooperative scenarios as well as PvP ranked duels. Coop battles can be played in terms of two or four; players can also take part in 12 player battles. It is due out early next year on PC.

This thread on the Savage 2 forum offers word that the online first-person shooter/strategy hybrid is having a free weekend where all demo accounts will have full access to the game, as well as get the opportunity to win cash prizes.

It will start this Friday and run through till Monday. The top total experience earners will win prizes starting from $50 to the maximum of $250. There will also be other rewards.

It’s no secret that developing on the PS3 is difficult, or in other words “more challenging” than the Xbox 360, but it’s always news when a developer publicly admits it.

The latest one comes from Massive Entertainment, the studio behind the console port of World in Conflict. Originally released for PC last year, the game is now being reworked for PS3 and Xbox 360; the developer has gone on record to say that the PS3 version has been the more challenging platform of the two, but they still plan on offering the same content on either consoles, noting that there might still be some minor graphical differences, but that gamers are going to have “virtually identical experiences.”

The console version of the game is expected to be released sometime later this year.