April 1^st, 2005 (4:19pm) - BioWare’s dazzling vision of mythological China will soon spring to life, as Microsoft Game Studios announced today that Jade Empire has gone gold. The stunningly beautiful action-RPG, exclusively for Xbox, will burst into North American retail outlets starting on April 12, with worldwide distribution occurring shortly thereafter.

The Limited Edition of Jade Empire is loaded with bonus content and is now available for pre-order at the same price as the regular edition. The Limited Edition is packaged in a special foil hologram box and features a bonus character and fighting style. The bonus character, Monk Zeng, has the ability to channel his Chi, or spiritual energy, to fuel powerful magic attacks that manipulate both elemental and spiritual forces. Monk Zeng can equip himself with a special weapon called the spade staff, a deadly weapon useful for slashing foes at a distance and finishing them with lethal follow-up attacks. The Jade Empire Limited Edition is available for pre-order now for the same suggested retail price as the standard version, $49.95 (U.S.).

Created by the award-winning development team at BioWare, Jade Empire will let players master dozens of martial arts fighting styles and mystical powers that match the awesome spectacle of Hong Kong action movies. The game features a deep, rich story in the tradition of BioWare, which most recently developed Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Players can train under their master’s watchful eye to learn powerful martial arts and mystical powers. When danger threatens, players will travel across the world, from the harsh mountains of the Land of Howling Spirits to the lush gardens of the Imperial City. In their adventures, players will face powerful human and supernatural foes, learn exotic and magical martial arts and discover the darkest secrets of the world. Only by mastering the greatest fighting styles and defeating the most powerful enemies will players earn their place as a master of martial arts in the world of Jade Empire.