Midway, Epic expanding Unreal Tournament 3

Gears of War maker VP Mark Rein shoots down speculation of publisher-developer rift, reveals "major expansion" for shooter en route; worldwide sales now top 1 million.

Last week, Midway announced that it had come to an agreement with two licensors to cease publishing games based on their IP. Pending an early-November earnings report, the financially strapped publisher couldn't confirm the identity of the two canceled licenses, one of which was externally developed, the other internally. Possible victims included the NBA Ballers series and several games based on Cartoon Network television shows.

Now, one franchise can be stricken from the list of potential victims. This morning, Epic Games vice president Mark Rein told GameSpot that Midway will indeed continue to distribute the Unreal Tournament series for the foreseeable future.

"Our arrangement with Midway isn't a license but rather a straight publishing agreement and Midway is still very much the publisher of Unreal Tournament 3," he said. "In fact, we're working together on a major expansion that we expect will excite and grow our UT3 customer base."

Rein declined to elaborate on whether the expansion was a stand-alone retail product, downloadable content, or a map pack. Regardless, it will be the first "major" add-on to the game since it shipped for the PC and PlayStation 3 last winter and for the Xbox 360 in July. UT3 is currently the top PC franchise from the increasingly console-focused Gears of War developer, which is also readying an Electronic Arts-published PC, PS3, and 360 title at its People Can Fly subsidiary.

The executive also revealed that to date, Unreal Tournament 3 has sold over 1 million units worldwide. As of August 31, the game had sold just over 476,000 units at US retailers, according to industry-research firm the NPD Group. While solid, the figure is only a fraction of Gears of War's total, which is nearly 3 million units in the US on the 360 and PC, according to NPD.

133 Comments

  • Nanj29

    Posted Oct 24, 2008 8:35 am PT

    If you guys miss bombing run, go get the mod for it. I did and I only own the PS3 version. for PS3 users go to http://www.ut3mod.com for ut3 maps and mutators, even characters. That site has alot of maps everything from Death Match to CTF. For Bombing Run, Google it (UT3 Bombing Run). Note this is for PC/PS3 if your wondering. Can't wait for the expansion, hope they put in multiplayer splitscreen.

  • MuBashi

    Posted Oct 23, 2008 10:49 pm PT

    Guarantee this add-on will bring back the tournament.

    You'll go after Malcom, who f*cked us over at the end of the last one.....

    and the only way to do that is through the tourney.

    THANKS EPIC.

  • Wo-dao

    Posted Oct 23, 2008 4:58 am PT

    I hope they improve on the server browser... only being able to search for one game type is stupid!

  • tonicmole

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 8:58 am PT

    I hope the expansion includes a good game. That would be cool.

  • Majin_Neo

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 8:24 pm PT

    I am glad that they are expanding this game. I like to play it but would really like them to add on some content.

  • 2x4b96123

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 4:38 pm PT

    i just hope in this expansion pack that there are some new warfare maps of the epically large size alot of the UT2k4 Editors choice map pack had such as the one with the volcanic island archipellego, the vast frozen tundra with multiple medieval castles, frozen lakes and mountains and the one with vast expanses of rolling hills and many castle ruins in which there were bases and nodes

  • UltimateRAGEX

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 2:46 pm PT

    Who cares UT3 sucks anyway. Total letdown.

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 11:32 am PT

    ut2k4 was fantastic and it was a stand alone expansion, ut3 has perfectly balanced the previously stupid movement physics, and given all the guns alot more personality. the levels are all pretty good the only problem i had with the game was the limited amount of content. perhaps this patch will give us the gameplay modes we want with more maps and stuff.

  • lamprey263 posted Oct 21, 2008 11:04 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    lamprey263

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 11:04 am PT (hide)

    wow, this game has only sold 1 million copies? Midway really shouldn't be wasting their time with this.

  • drand24

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 10:03 am PT

    they keep adding more maps, better graphics, different guns, more abilities, ect but for some reason they haven't been able to add more FUN. the original Unreal Tournament that came out in 1999 still is more fun than any sequel they've put out. I doubt an add on will fix that.

  • OmegaOrtega

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 9:52 am PT

    What they need to do is revamp and push it like they did UT2004. UT2k3 was about on the level as UT3, a great but not fully fleshed out game, UT04 used the same engine and super-sized what UT2k3 had done. I really hope they do the same with Unreal Engine III with Unreal, because UT3 was somewhat of a let down like UT2k3 was.

  • Garfield360UK

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 9:39 am PT

    Interesting, I wander whem we might be seeing this add on?

  • rikhan_z

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 9:15 am PT

    I'm going to have to make alot to content for UT3 alone... there my oppotinity to MOD alot more.

  • sgt-hawkins

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 9:14 am PT

    well i was new to the unreal game and god based on three i wish i had not piad 60 for it maybe this will change my mind

  • jinzo9988

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 9:00 am PT

    So when are they planning on releasing the rest of UT3? UT3 absolutely disgusted me compared to everything 2004 offered.

  • Pilch_R_eD

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 8:46 am PT

    They need to bring back all the awesome game modes they left out. What happend to Bomb Run and Assault? Amongst others. Also, their so called singleplayer with coop campaign was a load of crap. I was expecting acctual maps where you ran through killing things getting to the end. Even if it was short and really old school basic it would have been a cool addition to the game, considering the multiplayer is the selling point of the franchise. And one of the biggest things for the PC version, give us a proper user interface PLEASE!!! And go back to the old style of server browser. Honestly, id never think it possible to go backwards with something like a server browser, but yeesh. I guess they figure modern gamers dont like to know as much about the server as possible in an easy to use re-arangable system where you can view more than just servers for one gametype. Eitherways, im interested in this. UT3 had allot of potential, it was just so lacking compared to UT2k4. If this fills the void, ill buy it!

  • jknight5422

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 8:21 am PT

    Glad to hear it's succeeding & surviving. It still begs the question: Would UT3 have sold 3 million units if it had come out for the PC/360 only? Ie, start out as an exclusive on the 360 & then come out for the PC? I think 360 owners buy more games than the other console or PC owners do...I had heard this a few months ago, I could be wrong.

  • Targzissian

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 8:09 am PT

    Running around shooting people in exotic futuristic locales with fancy weapons is fun!!!

  • SpamU

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 7:55 am PT

    ut3 was a good game but it wasnt unreal it was all earthy n the storyline had nothing to do with the tournament hell facing worlds wasnt even on an asteroid in space anymore! plus no one is online on the pc and that makes me sad

  • bukkookkub

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 7:05 am PT

    Invasion RPG would be really fun to play again. Oh and superfast instagib CTF

  • robbie_sla

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 6:50 am PT

    we liked ut2k4 because it brought new concepts to the table. ut3 brought a few minor things like the hoverboard. to me it was a success simply because it stuck to its roots, its a competitive fps which shows peoples skill levels on an obvious level. a major expansion presuming it is done correct will reform the tight nit community we once had in gone by era's of the competitive fps scene (q3,cs1.4-1.6, wolfenstien ut2k3,ut2k4 etc)

  • Eko_Eko_Azarak

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 6:43 am PT

    What a great game. I'm glad they are expanding on it, though as has been said in these comments, UT2004 is better. IMO the Unreal games have the best FPS shooter multiplayer around.

  • g3n3r41xan

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 2:53 am PT

    I wish the Darkwalker was in UT2K4.
    UT2K4 forever.
    UT3 is good but 2K4 is better.

  • Death_Masta187 posted Oct 21, 2008 2:01 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Death_Masta187

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 2:01 am PT (hide)

    Ut2k4>UT99>ut2k3>Eating my own poo>ut3

  • red-orc

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 12:50 am PT

    Trophies too?

  • MassDriver00

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 12:44 am PT

    Im shocked they're actually considering releasing more content for the rusty, cobweb-covered PC.
    No, wait- it's just another Midway/Epic Marketing afterthought, with the console market all stitched-up by Gears of War 2 or 8 or whatever..
    So as we inexorably move toward this "console-centric" future, we can thank Midway/Epic for helping to BURY THE PC.
    - Back to UT04 kids..

  • firehawk998

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 11:48 pm PT

    This is good news!!!!!!!

  • Oni

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 11:11 pm PT

    "Actually, UT'03 was on PC first, then ported a few months later. " - parrot_of_adun

    Unreal Tournament 2003 began development as a PC port of the then existing Unreal Championship code for the original Xbox named Unreal Tournament 2. It went on to become 2 different games. The fact still remains that it was still a port (in a sense). That's what I was talking about. :p

  • sheepradish

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 11:01 pm PT

    NEED MORE MAPS EPIC!

  • SirFatalChaos

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 10:42 pm PT

    Cool story, bro

  • rulo_rezn0r

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 10:25 pm PT

    if the expansion is more of the same lame campaign missions, count me out

  • DeadManRollin

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 9:38 pm PT

    UT3 is the worst UT ever

  • ocdog45

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 9:02 pm PT

    boring!

  • jbeasly

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 8:16 pm PT

    @MohFrontline

    Not if your playing on godlike

  • jbeasly

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 8:09 pm PT

    I agree with DarkNeoBahamut

  • Mad_Banana

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 8:04 pm PT

    another epic fail on the way imo

  • DarkNeoBahamut

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 7:17 pm PT

    the game is awesome for multiplayer, too bad it's underrated

  • foxfire0666

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 7:10 pm PT

    Ive tried my best to get into ut3 but I just cant seem to like I did ut 2004 I think it has something to do with not many populated servers for pc and that it lags weird for me

  • ShadowJake

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 7:05 pm PT

    awesome! maybe this will bring more people into playing UT3 cuz hardly anyone plays it as of now. and personally I hope that it is a stand alone expansion since those typically have more content on them. Also, I think more weapons would be amazing

  • spartanlaser

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 6:34 pm PT

    its too fast paced for my friends but i liked it

  • Neloy

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 6:25 pm PT

    i wish all the contents that were present in UT04 be included in UTIII.

  • puckhead778

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 6:06 pm PT

    i wish more people played ut3 bc its very underrated

  • BloodMist

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 5:59 pm PT

    Whew, good.The day the UT series died would be a terrible, terrible day.I've played every UT and UT3 was a worthy successor.Add some more content and maybe it could even top UT '04.The console versions don't count, BTW.Stop referring to them.

  • ldonyo

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 5:50 pm PT

    Odds are that it will be DLC for the PS3 and Xbox 360 only, especially after taking all of Rein's anti-PC comments over the last year into consideration.

  • Adam_the_Nerd

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 5:42 pm PT

    hmmm... UT3 was enjoyable but I liked UT2004 better, let's see how this goes.

  • burnout_toreach

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 5:33 pm PT

    I still own the Editor's choice Edition of UT2004 and it simply kicks the ass out of anything UT3, i have the game and i gave it a chance and it's terrible and if they wanna improve on it that's fine and it better be good cause other wise they're wasting their time

  • japanesegoth

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 5:31 pm PT

    maybe if people start actually playing ut3 i'll get the expansion.

  • parrot_of_adun

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 5:27 pm PT

    starting with UT2003, took it to consoles first and the PC was like an afterthought." -Oni

    Actually, UT'03 was on PC first, then ported a few months later. Unreal Championship 2 was what started this whole mess. But IMO '04 is the best so far.
    UT3 was just a huge letdown...
    Way too... GoW-ish.

  • dkell2

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 5:16 pm PT

    They need splitscreen for the PS3. That's the best way to get people online. Hopefully that's at least part of where they're going with this. The game is actually fun, there's just no one playing it.

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