BBC News is reporting that Project IGI2: Covert Strike has been banned in China. Why? Because it features missions where you steal intelligence and conduct sabotage in the country. This is said to "smear the country's image" and so all copies of the game will be confiscated. Now IGI2 was an average game, but still, come on guys. Update: good times, Codemasters hasn't even published/distributed this game in China. Thanks the archvile.

Codemasters has released a new multiplayer map for IGI 2: Covert Strike, called Libyan Village. The file is mirrored on FileShack. Thanks Blues News.

Codemasters has released a new IGI2 update, offering a safemode patch to those of you "unable to play IGI2" or people "experiencing critical graphical issues". Thanks Blues News.

The first patch for IGI 2: Covert Strike has been released, updating UK and Nordic versions of the game. The patch offers some bug fixes, as well as a new multiplayer mission. There is an updated dedicated server release as well.

The Codemasters guys have released a dedicated server file for IGI 2, allowing you to run a server for the game without the CD or CD-Key being required. You can find a mirror of the 74mb file on FileShack.

Waqas Zia Chaudhry on IGI 2 is GameSpy's Q&A with the lead artist of IGI 2: Covert Strike. Waqas is asked about the new save system, the story, the stealth gameplay, AI and a few other things.

The Codemasters website has posted an audio interview with Chris Ryan, who is the military consultant on IGI 2: Covert Strike. Thanks Derek Labian.

Codemasters send along a new IGI2: Covert Strike demo, offering a level "high in the Carpathian Mountains and has David Jones, our IGI (Institute for Geotactical Intelligence) agent, on a reconnaissance mission tracking down a nano-technology chip, held by the local mafia". The full version of the game will be out very soon.

A new version of the IGI 2: Covert Strike multiplayer demo has been released, updating the code to a more recent version of the game. It includes the Timberland map, where you aim "to sabotage an old mineral plant that the Conspiracy is using as a cover to extract uranium for covert weapons manufacturing". Thanks WorthPlaying.

The official IGI 2: Covert Strike website has a new gameplay movie from the game, "showcasing how integral the game's accurately modelled real-world weapons are if you're to succeed in the covert missions.". A mirror of the high res MPG version of the video can be found on FileShack. Thanks Erik.

Following the release of the multiplayer beta a week ago, Codemasters has now released a single player demo of IGI 2: Covert Strike. The 138mb demo contains a mission "set in a goldmine in the Carpathian foothills of Romania and sees David Jones, our IGI (Institute for Geotactical Intelligence) agent, investigating the theft of an advanced nano-technology device by an organised crime syndicate". Also check out the latest interview about the project on Gaming Invasion.

As promised, Codemasters has now released an IGI 2 multiplayer beta allowing you to try out a single level from Innerloop's action/stealth game sequel. Here's what you do in this multiplayer beta: "This public Multiplayer Beta Test calls for stealth and weapon skills to sabotage an old mineral plant that terrorists are using as a cover to extract uranium for covert weapons manufacturing. "

Codemasters will be releasing a IGI2: Covert Strike multiplayer test tomorrow, and HomeLAN Fed saw the chance to post some impressions early. JCal describes the Tribes-sized single level that's included, the objective based game mode, the graphics and more.

Gamers Click's IGI 2: Covert Strike Q&A is online. Henning Rokling of Innerloop answers a few questions about this upcoming shooter sequel. Also check out this news update on Codemasters' IGI 2 site with demo dates and times.

There's a new IGI 2: Covert Strike preview on GameSpy, taking a look at the current build of the stealth action game. Just a few weeks until we get to play a demo ourselves.