RNS Number:6611K
Empire Interactive PLC
02 May 2003

2nd May 2003





                             EMPIRE INTERACTIVE PLC

                           ("Empire" or "the Group")


             Empire's XplosivTM business expands into PlayStation(R) 2


Empire, a leading AIM listed computer games developer and publisher, announces
that it has finalised the launch plans for PlayStation(R) 2 ("PS2") budget
titles in 2003.



The budget line up will launch with six titles from last year including
Victorious Boxers, Kuri Kuri Mix, Driven, Wild Wild Racing and Endgame as well
as Psyvariar, an arcade shoot'em-up previously unreleased in Europe.  The new
titles will retail at the #14.99 price point.  Further titles have also been
signed for roll-out in release batches scheduled throughout the remainder of
2003.



Empire's PC budget range, XplosivTM, has shown continuous growth since its
launch in July 2000.  It achieved the 2002 UK Christmas number one PC budget
title with Sonic(R) 3D, which sold almost 200,000 copies.  Last year, it
realised sales of over 1.5 million units, representing 20% of the total European
business and over 50% growth on 2001.



Ian Higgins, Chief Executive of Empire said: "2002 was a very successful year
for our XplosivTM business; at one point, Xplosiv titles held six of the top ten
positions in the budget charts.  Sonic(R) 3D was just the icing on the cake and
demonstrates just how far the XplosivTM brand has developed in two years.  The
PS2 line up which consists of quality, established and previously unreleased
titles will allow us to build on this success.



XplosivTM continues to dominate its market and now offers full pan-European
distribution on the PC platform; we hope to achieve something similar with the
PS2 line up.  Budget titles remain an integral part of our business model and
represents one of a number of revenue streams now available to the Group."





                                     -Ends-





For further information, please contact:



Empire Interactive plc                                 020 8343 7337
Ian Higgins, CEO
(ian.higgins@empire.co.uk)


Weber Shandwick Square Mile                            020 7067 0700
Christian Taylor-Wilkinson
Christian San Jose


Note to Editors:



About Empire

Empire is a leading publisher of interactive entertainment software that has
been established for 14 years. The company floated on the Alternative Investment
Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange in July 2000. Headquartered in the UK,
Empire also has offices in the US, Germany, Italy and Spain. The Company
develops and publishes a varied range of titles for current and next-generation
platforms in the US, Europe and Asia. Further information about Empire and its
products can be found at: http://www.empireinteractive.com.



Empire and Xplosiv are either trademarks of Empire Interactive Europe Limited in
the UK/Europe and/or other countries.  All other trademarks are the properties
of their respected owners, all rights reserved.





About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of
consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI)
manufacturers, distributes and markets the PlayStation(R) game console and
PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system.  SCEI, along with its subsidiary
divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment
Europe Ltd. and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc., develops, publishes,
markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs
for these two platforms in the respective markets worldwide.  Headquartered in
Tokyo, Japan, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is an independent business unit
of the Sony Group.



PlayStation and the PlayStation logo, PSone and PS2 are registered trademarks of
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their
respective owners.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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