Puzzle Quest expansion hits Xbox Live Arcade

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords was described during GameSpot's E3 2008 live show as one of the "sleeper hits" of 2007, when it became the best-selling puzzle franchise. The combination of an RPG storyline and gem-matching gameplay proved to be a critical hit and an addictive pastime for many, and Puzzle Quest has recently been added into the Xbox Live Arcade Hits programme.

It was revealed in March that there would be an expansion pack for the Xbox Live Arcade version of the game, which first came out on PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS. Publisher D3 has now confirmed that the expansion pack, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - Revenge of the Plague Lord, will be available via Xbox Live Arcade in the US and Europe from Wednesday, July 23.

The expansion pack, previously known as Puzzle Quest 1.5, will cost 700 Microsoft points and promises "hours of additional gameplay." Four new hero professions will be available--bard, ranger, rogue, and warlock, and there will be "more than 50" new spells alongside 40 additional magical items. The level cap is lifted to level 60, and three new achievements will be on offer. The southern area of the map will become available, containing at least 25 quests related to a storyline around Antharg, Lord of Plague, who is the brother of Puzzle Quest's final boss, Lord Bane.

As demonstrated at E3 2008 last week, developer Infinite Interactive is also working on Puzzle Quest: Galactrix, which adds a sci-fi element and new gameplay mechanics. The game is due for release in 2009. For more information, see GameSpot's Puzzle Quest: Galactrix E3 2008 stage demo and preview.