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IGN has the scoop on fresh EndWar downloadable content and a title update that'll be releasing ... this Thursday, December 11th! Yikes, talk about short notice.

The EndWar Escalation Pack content will release for 800 Microsoft points and include a few new maps, three new unit upgrades and ten additional achievements worth 220 Gamerscore. The title update will focus on eliminating a few exploits, improving stability, making the leaderboards more reliable and (the biggest change) will up maximum players from four to eight. That's, like, doubling the amount of action and potentially doubling the fun!

[Thanks, Lightsout565]

Ubisoft is deploying new downloadable content tomorrow for Tom Clancy's EndWar (via IGN). The Escalation Pack includes four new maps, three new unit upgrades, and 10 new Achievements and Trophies for Xbox Live and PS3, respectively. The pack will be 800 ($9.99) and will be released simultaneously for both consoles.

Additionally, a free title update is also due out tomorrow (only for Xbox 360; the PS3 patch is expected sometime in 2009). Beyond the usual connectivity, leaderboard and bug fixes, the update will raise the maximum player cap from 4 to 8, making possible 4-on-4 games in both Skirmish and Theater of War modes.

Here's one for you. Two parrots playing the voice controlled Tom Clancy's EndWar. Really, need we say more?

No joke, the official EndWar video you see above features two talking birds named Walter and Polly who are sitting on a custom apparatus and talking into Xbox Live headsets while their "owner" instructs them on tactical EndWar maneuvers. We're not sure what to make of the video, but it did get us thinking. What other animals could be taught to play EndWar? We have a cat that can sorta meow the alphabet. His name is Tubby.

Embedded above and after the break are three new in-game videos from the little voice controlled war RTS called Tom Clancy's Endwar. And the game actually looks pretty decent, if you're into war, RTS games, things that are voice controlled or stern, military sounding women's voices. Check out the vids and share your brutally honest opinion of Endwar and its voice controls.

Although we missed the presentation ourselves, the gang at Robot Martini caught Ubisoft's demonstration of Tom Clancy's EndWar audio power at PAX 2008. To do so, they pitted two parrots against each other in a multiplayer match. Check out the video yourself after the break. When Polly says "deploy tanks," you take cover and hide your crackers (har).

Ubisoft has released beaucoup d'images as part of the media overflow we call Leipzig Games Convention 2008. Below and after the break, check out new galleries of screenshots for Raving Rabbids TV Party, Prince of Persia, EndWar, HAWX, Far Cry 2 and more. It's just like Ubidays, only with no Beyond Good & Evil in sight. Oh, mon Dieu!

Specially created for the Leipzig Games Convention, Ubisoft just released their latest EndWar trailer which is aimed at getting you, the consumer, pumped for worldwide EndWar shenanigans. And after giving it a watch, we're intrigued, but know our experience with the EndWar beta has already pretty much solidified our opinion of the game. But for those who didn't get in on the beta fun, what say you? You loving the trailer? You loving the EndWar? You loving life?

In case your appetite for voice-controlled strategizing hasn't been whetted enough by the bountiful beta leaks, an Ubisoft Forum Manager has announced that you can get "access to the exclusive Stress Test" (i.e. early playtime) for Tom Clancy's End War by pre-ordering the game at participating retailers. More details are said to be forthcoming; a stress test registration page has been unearthed on the End War website that lists July 8 as the opening day.

[Via Damngamer]

Update: Ubi lawyer-ninjas (totally different than ninja-lawyers) move quick. Video is down.

It's off some guy's television screen and the audio is horrible, but if you're itching to see what Tom Clancy's EndWar looks like, some naughty beta-tester uploaded a video of the game for all to see.

Now watch the video above and enjoy the fruits of somebody breaking their non-disclosure agreement (NDA). If the video suddenly disappears, the Ubi lawyer-ninjas probably got to it. Now we need to photoshop some lawyer-ninjas in case that actually happens. Watch ... while you still can.

[Via X3F]

Update 2: Ubisoft's lawyer-ninjas have swooped in and taken care of the video leakage. Nothing to see here folks.

Update: We probably didn't make it clear that this leaked Endwar beta video isn't our original work and was actually sent to us as a tip. We just figured we'd pass it along. Never would we intentionally break an NDA agreement, especially one enacted by Ubisoft and their well paid lawyers.

Sit back, watch and marvel at what enjoyment a broken non-disclosure agreement (NDA) can bring with the embedded video above. Yup, it's a ten minute introductory video (off-screen, but we can deal) of what Tom Clancy's Endwar is all about. It's the definitive Endwar beta experience that non-beta participates always wanted! Enough talky, more watchy ...

[Thanks, Derka]

As clocks struck midnight around the globe, Ubisoft began turning on servers and releasing beta keys for its upcoming console RTS Tom Clancy's EndWar. Due to the staggered release of keys for the small beta (speculation is only 15,000 testers were selected) some of the testers were quick to proclaim the release a disaster; as it turns out Ubisoft was intentionally releasing the beta in waves throughout the evening and early morning.

Tom Clancy's EndWar Beta, which clocks in at a sizable 2.98GB, gives players the chance to play through one of three planned online modes in 1v1 or 2v2 matches and is planned to run until July 7.

Early this morning, the first wave of invites for the beta release of Tom Clancy's EndWar have begun to flood email boxes everywhere. Beginning June 16, selected gamers will be able to experience the first RTS title to brandish the Tom Clancy name for three-weeks when the beta ends on July 7.

The EndWar Private Demo/Beta, as it's officially referred to as, includes a reduced part of one of the 3 game modes planned for the retail release of EndWar. The beta will feature online play only for matches of 1v1 or 2v2. Gamers who participate in the beta will receive exclusive Gamerpics, which will be released to testers at a later time.

Signing up for the beta requires a non-disclosure agreement that disables participants from disclosing any information, not currently available, to any third-party source. So, when your mother asks you why you're yelling at your television you'll just have to play along and act crazy. Unless you actually aren't actually in the beta, in which case ... seek help immediately.

Jump in for a peak at our invite email sent to us at 5:30 AM EST.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update 3: It seems that as every hour progresses the timer (above the five decoded files) adds another hour to the countdown. Stay tuned until we get a confirmation on what exactly is happening.

Update 2: The timer now states the countdown will end at 5:50PM EST.

Update: Apparently the decrypter on the Ghost Recon site went on a lunch break. The new countdown, set to expire at 1:50PM, has just added an additional 2 hours. The new countdown now ends at 3:50PM EST.

Last week we reported an interesting development occurring across all of Ubisoft's Tom Clancy branded websites. First, a flash overlay of a smoking dossier (or black box) appeared over the official Ghost Recon website that provided users with no functions or information. The next morning a menu appeared allowing site visitors to click into an alternate reality game called MACSAT7 Recovery which expanded the flash window and revealed five audio and video files in the early stages of decoding. Soon reports flew in that other overlays, with what appeared to be wreckage from a downed helicopter, began appearing on the official sites for Splinter Cell, Rainbow Six and the upcoming End War that all pointed to the original Ghost Recon site.

After carefully conducting mathematics we realized that each of the five files were counting down to the date and time they would be decrypted, and thus available to analyze for information, but we also noticed an overall timer that was counting down to around noon on April 2. Moments ago the ARG came to an end and we were surprised to see a new countdown has emerged for 1:50PM 3:50PM EST.

Could this be the rumored Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 3, which is said to end the trilogy's stay in Mexico, or the highly expected Firehawk? Only time will tell.

Update: At the time of this story the Rainbow Six website wasn't acting properly, however it has been reported that it too is pointing to the Ghost Recon website via a similar overlay. This story has been updated to include the Rainbow Six site.

In the early hours of the day this morning one of our readers helped us spot a strange overlay on the official Ghost Recon website. Visitors of the site were treated to a smoking dossier (which might be a black box after all) but nothing could be done other than close off the overlay and scratch your head.

Today, both the End War, Splinter Cell and Rainbow Six sites have received similar flash-based marketing treatments. Each site includes an overlay of smoking items that appear to be from a wreckage which, when clicked, redirects visitors to the official Ghost Recon website -- home of the original mystery.

While it could all end there, today the Ghost Recon site updated with new information and a mysterious countdown timer.

Behold, our fellow fanboys! The video that you see embedded above is your first glimpse, first look and first first of visual goodness from Tom Clancy's EndWar. The console RTS that promises to revolutionize RTS gaming as we know it. Once you complete your video viewing session, you'll know how the game's voice recognition works, what the graphics look like, if you enjoy the third person view and what the Frag Dolls are wearing. Seriously, just watch already and give us your opinion when your video viewing mission is complete. Just be sure to wear your optimistic cap.