Home Entertainment Suppliers (HES) announced today the development of "Rugby Challenge 2: The Lions Tour Edition" for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, by New Zealand based games developer Sidhe.


The sequel product includes myriad new features, improvements and fresh content including the addition of the highly anticipated British and Irish Lions 2013 Tour of Australia. The game will be released as Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge 2 in France, All Blacks Rugby Challenge 2 in New Zealand, and Rugby Challenge 2: The Lions Tour Edition in rest of world.

Rugby Challenge 2 will include All Blacks, the Qantas Wallabies, the USA Eagles, Bledisloe Cup, British and Irish Lions 2013 Tour of Australia, Barbarians FC, Combined Country, Super Rugby teams, Aviva Premiership Rugby, TOP 14 Orange, Pro D2, RaboDirect PRO12, ITM Cup, and Ranfurly Shield, amongst other licensed teams and competitions, and will feature multiplayer online play via PlayStation®Network, Xbox LIVE®, or Steam, a multi-year franchise mode, a tutorial mode for novice players, 110+ teams, 50+ stadia, extensive customisation options for creating or customising players, teams, and competitions, and dynamic real-time commentary by Grant Nisbett, Justin Marshall, Eric Bayle and Thomas Lombard.

The features and content of Rugby Challenge 2: The Lions Tour Edition include:

• Play in Single Match Mode, multi-team Competition Mode, a vastly expanded multi-year Career Mode, Tutorial Mode, or compete in online multiplayer with support up to 4v4 via PlayStation®Network, Xbox LIVE®, or Steam


• Refined and expanded gameplay with the addition of quick taps, quick lineouts, mauls from lineouts, interceptions, contesting ball at the breakdown, removing players from the ruck, number 8 scrum pickups, and dynamic in game team strategies on both attack and defence


• 110+ teams and 50+ stadia from around the world featured including official team, competition, and special match licenses for the All Blacks, the Qantas Wallabies, the USA Eagles, Bledisloe Cup, British and Irish Lions 2013 Tour of Australia, Barbarians FC, Combined Country, Super Rugby teams, Aviva Premiership Rugby, TOP 14 Orange, Pro D2, RaboDirect PRO12, ITM Cup, and Ranfurly Shield


• More options to create or customise players, teams, and competitions, and change game rules and behaviour to shape the game to play how you want and keep the game fresh year after year


• Revamped sound and commentary systems, with real-time commentary from seasoned rugby commentators Grant Nisbett and former All Black turned commentator Justin Marshall, and French language commentary from Eric Bayle and Thomas Lombard

Rugby Challenge 2: The Lions Tour Edition will release worldwide for PS3, 360 and PC in midyear 2013. More information and ongoing updates about the game can be found at the official website www.rugbychallengegame.com or via the 360-HQ video games database.

Official Site: www.rugbychallengegame.com
360-HQ Video Games: Rugby Challenge 2: The Lions Tour Edition