Here is the official announcement from Sony: The First 'Massively Multiplayer Online First-Person Action Game" Launches May 23, 2003 Ubi Soft and Sony Online Entertainment announce the release of PlanetSideTM in May 2003 and herald the new future for online action gaming. May 6th, 2003. Ubi Soft Entertainment, one of the world's leading video game publishers, today announced an exclusive agreement with Sony Online Entertainment to publish the eagerly awaited PlanetSide in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Quebec and Japan. Currently in development, the game is the first massively multiplayer online action game that allows literally thousands of gamers to play at the same time. Its global release on PC CD-ROM is scheduled for the week debuting May 19, 2003, with the UK release date scheduled for May 23, 2003. European gamers will benefit from a server that is based in Amsterdam, thus providing great service with regards to connection and customer support. PlanetSide's developer, Sony Online Entertainment, has made good use of the wealth of experience it has gained from its previous title EverQuest. With over 430,000 subscribers worldwide, EverQuest is one of the most successful online multi-player RPG in the world today. "PlanetSide represents a whole new genre for massively multiplayer games." Says Alain Corre, Ubi Soft 's managing director for Europe, the Asia Pacific region and South America. "It combines the best of online interaction with the thrill of first-person combat and action to immerse players in a totally new universe. It is a real pleasure working with Sony Online Entertainment, in Europe for this revolutionary title, which reinforces our leading position in the online gaming sector." "The initial response from our player community has been overwhelming with thousands of players in the game at any moment." Says John Smedley, Sony Online Entertainment's president and CEO. "The future of first-person action games is unfolding before our eyes as we see people from around the world take part in battles the size and scale of which have never been imagined before in any other online action game. We are confident in our partnership with UBI Soft and look forward to growing our global player base together". PlanetSide promises to be outstanding in terms of quality. It is a persistent, virtual universe, represented by a planet divided into several continents. On this planet, thousands of online gamers will play the role of mercenaries from different rival Empires contesting for supremacy. Conflicts take place within a wide variety of environments, ranging from an ice desert to arid lands, where Commanders assign missions to other players, with the aim of taking control of rival technology bases... by any means possible. Each player is free to carry out missions independently or as part of a team or larger battle group. A wide selection of weapons, special equipment and military ground and air vehicles made available by their empire will assist them in their tasks. Finally for an even greater level of player involvement and immersion, all players can develop their characters with specializations and certification which will open a path to more game play options. About Ubi Soft® Entertainment: Ubi Soft Entertainment is an international producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products. A leading company in the multimedia industry, Ubi Soft's strong and diversified lineup has grown considerably, as has Ubi Soft itself. As well as steadfastly continuing to partner with several high-profile companies, Ubi Soft has also confirmed its presence on the global market by developing its own exceptional properties. Founded in 1986 in France, Ubi Soft is now present on every continent, both through offices in 22 different countries including the United States, Brazil, Morocco, Germany and China and through sales of products in over 50 countries. The group is dedicated to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers around the world. To learn more, visit www.ubi.com. About Sony Online Entertainment Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Digital Inc., is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchise, EverQuest®, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX and St. Louis, MO, SOE has an array of cutting-edge online games in development such as PlanetSideTM, Star Wars GalaxiesTM and the highly anticipated EverQuest® II.