GameShadow, the online game update and patching service, has announced that it is now in a position to be able to abolish its subscription fee. The consumer base of more than 300,000 PC gamers will be able to download up to 1GB of content per month from the site for free.

　　More than 1,500 games and graphics cards are represented on the site, which offers patches, drivers, demos, and trailers. Top titles currently featured include Hitman: Blood Money and Tomb Raider: Legend. Nicholas Lovell, CEO of GameShadow, said: "We've been waiting to hit critical mass before offering the service for free...and feedback from subscribers has indicated that gamers find it hugely useful."

　　For those gamers who need more than 1GB of download capacity, a premium service will be available, allowing up to 30GB of downloads per month, exclusive competitions, the ability to turn off ads, and a free game (a choice from a range, including Crashday, King Kong, the Prince of Persia trilogy, and the Splinter Cell trilogy).

　　GameShadow launched in August 2003, and was one of the first sites to offer PC users an automated patching service. Konami, Eidos, Atari, and Ubisoft are among the publishers that lend the site their support. More information can be found on www.gameshadow.com.