In July, Japan-based From Software acquired the worldwide copyright to the Tenchu brand from Activision. At the time, From Software would only say that it would be handling development and sales of future installments in the ninja-centric series, which it would distribute through unidentified "partner companies."

　　Last week, From revealed the European publisher of the latest Tenchu game, Tenchu: Fatal Shadows, would be Sega, which already publishes From's Otogi series. In a not-so shocking move, Sega today announced that it will publish Fatal Shadows in America as well. Already available in Japan, the game was developed by K2 studios, creator of the previous game in the series, Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven.

　　As one would expect from a game about ninjas, Fatal Shadows will sport plenty of stealth and melee combat. It will feature two playable characters--Ayame, the heroine of Wrath of Heaven, and the newcomer Rin. In a statement, Sega also helpfully let the public know that the game's "levels are structured to avoid the frustrating trial-and-error patterns that are all too familiar in the stealth genre."

　　Exclusive to the PlayStation 2, Tenchu: Fatal Shadows is set for a tentative February 2005 release at a $49.95 price point. Exclusive to GameSpot is a first look at the American version of game.