Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced today that Turbine, Inc. will unveil a major update this fall, making The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) free-to-play for everyone, instead of being a subscription product.

The Board of Directors of GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), the world’s largest video game and entertainment software retailer, today announced the promotion of existing executives into new positions within the company to help it focus on digital downloads and platforms. The promotions include: Daniel A. DeMatteo, Executive Chairman, from Chief Executive Officer and J. Paul Raines, Chief Executive Officer, from Chief Operating Officer.

Shanda Interactive Entertainment Limited (Nasdaq: SNDA), or Shanda, a entertainment media company in China, today announced its unaudited consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010. Consolidated net revenues increased 19% year-over-year and decreased 13% quarter-over-quarter to RMB1,318.2 million (US$193.1 million).

Shanda (Nasdaq: SNDA), and Hurray! (Nasdaq: HRAY), announced that Shanda and Hurray! have entered into a definitive agreement under which Hurray! will acquire an online audio business of Shanda in exchange for 415,384,615 newly issued ordinary shares of Hurray!, and concurrently, Shanda will acquire Hurray!'s recorded music and wireless value-added services businesses in exchange for an aggregate of US$36.9 million in cash.

Seoul-based Korean publisher Nexon has acquired a 29% share in Korean online game developer GameHi with a $60 million deal. GameHi is best known for its FPS title Sudden Attack. More information about the Korean games market can be found in Pearl Research's report: http://www.redlinechina.com/main/?q=node/1377.

GigaMedia Limited (Nasdaq: GIGM) today announced that its IAHGames operation has partnered with Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., to bring StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty to Southeast Asia. IAHGames is a online game operator, publisher and distributor in Southeast Asia with titles such as FIFA Online 2, Granado Espada, and Dragonica.

Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO), today announced a partnership with Zynga that will integrate Zynga’s popular social games through Yahoo!’s global network of websites. The partnership enables Zynga games to reach more than 600 million people worldwide across Yahoo!.

Nexon Corp., the South Korean-based of publisher of free-to-play online games, announced its worldwide revenues increased 56 percent last year, growing from 450.8 billion won in 2008, to 703.6 billion won in 2009. Additionally, Nexon America posted a 31 percent increase in revenues in 2009, as for the first time, non-Korean contributions accounted for the majority of Nexon’s global revenue.  

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) announced a publishing agreement with independent developer Insomniac Games that will bring the studio’s new franchise to the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 system. This will be the first multiplatform release in Insomniac’s 16-year history. Published through the EA Partners program, the new title will mark the introduction of a brand new universe from Insomniac, creators of Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet & Clank and Resistance franchises.

The9 Limited (Nasdaq: NCTY) , an online game developer and operator in China, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Webzen for the renewal of The9's exclusive license of publishing and operating Webzen's Soul of The Ultimate Nation ("SUN"), a 3D massively multiplayer online role playing game in China.