Microsoft announced today that it will distribute the next saga of the epic action-strategy game Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes exclusively for Xbox in late summer 2005. A continuation of the highly acclaimed Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders, KUF: Heroes raises the intensity of the fast-paced action-strategy game with improved epic battles; new characters, environments, units; and new multiplayer options for waging war over Xbox Live. An improved user interface with simplified game menus and adjusted difficulty levels will make it easy for even new players to crush their foes.

Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes lets players assume the role of a general in a fantasy battlefield. Players must fight alongside their troops and use catapults, dragons or any means necessary to annihilate their enemies. Set five years before the The Crusaders, Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes will let gamers take seven unique new Heroes through 50 campaign missions that will deliver 30-50 hours of ruthless medieval warfare. Each of the seven heroes has new skills, abilities and a unique link to the original story. New units and environments will add more variety and depth to the epic-scale battles. In addition, new custom missions will let players set up their own adventures by selecting their opponents’ level, type and skill.

KUF: Heroes will also boast enhanced Xbox Live features including voice messaging and support for up to six players. New game modes such as Troop Battles, Hero Battles and Observer mode mean even more ways to bloody your friends and foes online. Co-op play is supported with separate campaigns from the single-player game.

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