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.

EA sent out word that a new multiplayer mode for The Godfather 2 will be released as a free downloadable patch right after the game’s release on April 7 in North America and April 10 in Europe.

Called “Don Control”, the mode will take the strategic gameplay of the title into an online environment where players build a family, command them in battle and view the action from a bird’s eye view from above. Here’s more:

Don Control introduces an additional layer of gameplay on top of the four multiplayer modes and six maps already available in the game and invites players to compete to see who is the ultimate Don of Dons. Players can now challenge one another in 16-player battles for their in-game currency from the single-player game. As a Don online, players can recruit others to join their family by giving them a cut of the profits. But if a player loses as Don, the in-game currency they wagered will be removed in their single-player campaign and their empire can come crumbling down.

The Godfather 2 is being released for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

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.

Viva Media today announced that it is partnering with Spellbound Entertainment for the release of Helldorado, a gun-slinging tactical action-strategy game from the creators of the Desperados series.

“Helldorado is simply a fun game that has all the ingredients for success: super graphics, intense fighting and a thrilling story,” said Viva CEO Carlo Voelkar. “We are very excited to bring it to market.”

The game is expected out online on April 9.

You’ll be soaring through the skies of the Pacific this May, as Eidos Interactive announced that Battlestations: Pacific will be released in North America and Europe on May 12 and 15, respectively.

The sequel expands upon the strategic combat of the first, offering 28 missions and historically accurate campaigns. Online multiplayer makes appearances in the form of competitive and cooperative modes, as well as new gameplay modes.

The game is due out on PC and Xbox 360.

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.”

Following the formation of Realmforge Studios, Kalypso Media also announced today that they have secured the publishing rights to Tropico 3 from Take-Two Interactive. The publisher will release the third entry in the once-famous strategy series in summer 2009.

Thankfully, Tropico 3 will be based on the awesomeness that was the first Tropico and not the crapfest that was the sequel.

“The Tropico series is a great IP which we are excited to continue,” said Simon Hellwig, Kalypso MD. “The game will be the biggest project Kalypso has realized so far in its short history and we are focusing on achieving a worldwide PC hit with this brand.”

It is being developed by Bulgaria-based Haemimont Games, who is also responsible for Grand Ages: Rome.

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.

Kalypso Media sends word that it has launched an umbrella brand dubbed “Grand Ages” to launch its upcoming strategy games, including Grand Ages: Rome formerly known as Imperium Romanum II.

The company hopes that the brand name will act as a strong customer recognizable brand for its strategy games portfolio.

"The GRAND AGES brand gives us the opportunity, to create a distinctive brand for all our strategy games which will be universally recognized and unique in the world wide game markets. Grand Ages: Rome is only the beginning of a future series of great Kalypso Media strategy games,” said Kalypso’s Stefan Marcinek.

The game is due out February 2009.

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.