November 13, 2007
As Xbox LIVE Turns Five, Microsoft Announces
Next Wave of Social Fun
Xbox LIVE membership soars past 8 million
mark, Microsoft unveils new download service for Xbox games direct to your
living room beginning Dec. 4.
On Nov. 15, Microsoft Corp. will celebrate the
fifth anniversary of Xbox LIVE. In addition, the company notes that the latest
membership figures show more than 8 million members are now actively engaged in
the largest social entertainment network on TV. Xbox LIVE has grown from a small
community of gamers in two countries, playing a handful of games online with
their friends, to a worldwide social entertainment network offering online
access to gaming, music, movies and TV shows. As friends across 26 countries and
nine languages have connected on Xbox LIVE, it is their feedback and active
participation that has guided the service to become what Wired magazine recently
called “the king of the online arena.” As a gesture of thanks to the gaming
community, all 8 million members will have the opportunity to download a free
Xbox LIVE Arcade game,* available for downloading between 12:01 a.m. PST on Nov.
15 and 11:59 p.m. PST on Nov. 16.** In addition to this, every active member who
joined the service in 2002 will receive 500 free Microsoft Points.
Starting on Dec. 4, all Xbox LIVE members will
receive a free system update with a host of new features and enhancements.
Included in this update will be the launch of Xbox Originals, which, for the
first time, will enable consumers to download and own full Xbox games, such as
“Halo,” “Psychonauts,” “Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge” and “Fable,” among
others, directly to their Xbox 360. This new service will launch with an array
of blockbuster titles spanning the most popular genres from action-adventure to
classic role-playing games.
With no disc necessary, and at just 1,200
Microsoft Points per game, Xbox LIVE members can easily rediscover these hit
titles, or check out a game they missed the first time around. This launch
lineup is only the beginning, as Xbox 360 owners can expect to see a growing
catalog of Xbox games to download and own over the coming year.
“In just five short years, Xbox LIVE has
revolutionized the way friends and family have fun in the living room,” said
John Schappert, corporate vice president of LIVE, software and services at
Microsoft. “On its fifth birthday, Xbox LIVE truly is the place for hanging out
with friends and enjoying downloadable TV shows, movies, videos, game add-ons
and now downloadable Xbox games on demand.”
More information can be found online about the
downloadable games available on Xbox LIVE, the evolution of Xbox LIVE or the
Xbox LIVE is 5IVE member rewards at
http://www.xbox.com.
