New Close Combat titles announced

Gathering and Destineer Publishing have today announced the next two titles in the Close Combat series for the Xbox, PC, and Macintosh. Close Combat: Red Phoenix and Close Combat: First to Fight are both currently being developed by Destineer in conjunction with Atomic Games.

Close Combat: First to Fight, which is scheduled for release toward the end of this year, is a team-based first-person shooter that's being developed under the direction of active-duty US Marines. Close Combat: Red Phoenix is a real-time strategy game loosely based on the Larry Bond novel Red Phoenix and is currently scheduled for release in 2005.

"We are pleased to add the next two installments of the Close Combat series to Gathering's expanding portfolio," said Jeffrey Lapin, CEO of Take-Two. "Destineer's management team has substantial experience in delivering high quality entertainment products, and we are excited to be working with them on these and other compelling titles."

"Gathering understands how to market and distribute hit games," added Paul Rinde, CEO of Destineer. "We chose to work with Gathering and Take-Two because of the strength of their global publishing and distribution capabilities."

We'll bring you more information on Close Combat: Red Phoenix and Close Combat: First to Fight as soon as it becomes available.