Microsoft Unveils Xbox Live Marketplace Content Available at Launch of Xbox 360

Microsoft Unveils Xbox Live Marketplace Content Available at Launch of Xbox 360 — Exciting day one line-up provides gamers with more than 400 pieces of exclusive content on November 22

In anticipation of the next generation console launch, Microsoft today announced that more than 400 pieces of downloadable Xbox Live Marketplace content—including free interactive demos for games like; “FIFA Soccer 06 Road to the 2006 FIFA World Cup” (Electronic Arts), “Kameo: Elements of Power” (Microsoft Game Studios), “Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie” (Ubisoft), “NBA LIVE 06” (Electronic Arts), and “Need for Speed Most Wanted” (Electronic Arts), and new music videos from Epic recording artists Franz Ferdinand and Audioslave, provided to users courtesy of Xbox 360—will be available to Xbox 360 fans starting November 22nd.

Freely accessible to anyone with a broadband connection, Xbox Live Marketplace is a digital download center providing free and premium content for games, as well as entertainment content such as movie trailers and music videos.

Premium Xbox Live Marketplace content will be available for purchase with Microsoft Points™. Microsoft Points is a new stored-value system that will let consumers purchase a number of points, and then redeem those points for content online, ranging from gamer pictures and themes to full game downloads on Xbox Live Arcade. Microsoft Points willbe available for purchase at participating retail stores and via the Xbox Live Dashboard. In North America, consumers can purchase a card worth 1600 Points for an MSRP of $19.99. Offers in the dashboard will range from 500 points and up.

The exclusive launch content also includes the next-generation Xbox Live Arcade online service, which is fully integrated into the Xbox 360 Dashboard providing a central destination for Xbox 360 gamers to download new games, access their game collections, check out new releases and experience around-the-game features. Xbox Live Arcade games will be available for 400, 800 or 1200 Points, with a majority of titles priced at 800 points or less.

In addition, each Xbox Live Arcade game on Xbox 360 offers a fully playable trial version, enabling gamers to experience their favorite arcade games in high-definition before deciding to purchase.

“We’re incredibly excited about providing gamers with what they want – inexpensive and entertaining digital content delivered right to their Xbox 360,” said Peter Moore, Corporate Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing for Xbox at Microsoft. “Xbox Live Marketplace puts the buying power directly into the consumer’s hands, allowing each person to choose digital content they want, when they want it.”