European Launch Games and Hardware announced

Microsoft Announces Xbox 360 Day One European Launch Line-Up

By CESPage.com Xbox, Published 15th November 2005

Fifteen Titles Form The Strongest Launch in the History of Video Game Consoles - Usher In Next Generation of Gaming

Welcome to the next generation of gaming. Microsoft announced on the 14th of November that 15 Xbox 360 games, spanning all the popular genres, and 13 Xbox 360 accessories will be available when the system launches in Europe on 2 December. Exclusive games Project Gotham Racing 3 (Bizarre Creations-Rare Ltd.); Perfect Dark Zero (MGS-Rare Ltd.), FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup (Electronic Arts), key franchises like Need for Speed: Most Wanted (EA), Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 06 (EA) and games for a broad audience like Kameo: Elements of Power (MGS-Rare Ltd.), Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie (Ubisoft) and Amped 3 (2K Sports) contribute to the broadest and deepest retail launch line-up in console history.

The following Xbox 360 games will be available in European retail stores on or before the console launch on 2 December:

Amped 3 (2K Sports)
Call of Duty 2 (Activision)
Condemned: Criminal Origins (SEGA)
FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup (Electronic Arts)
GUN (Activision)
Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft Game Studios)
Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft Game Studios)
Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie(Ubisoft)
Madden NFL 06 (Electronic Arts)
NBA Live 06 (Electronic Arts)
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (Electronic Arts)
Project Gotham Racing 3 (Microsoft Game Studios)
Quake 4 (Activision, id software and Raven Software Corp.)
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 06(Electronic Arts)
Tony Hawks American Wasteland (Activision)

The powerful pipeline of spectacular Xbox 360 games all optimised for high-definition game play doesn't stop at launch. Great games such as Dead or Alive 4 (Tecmo/MGS), The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion (Bethesda), and Ridge Racer 6 (Namco) will light up store shelves in the weeks after launch and beyond.

"The next generation of gaming begins on 2 December in Europe, and there has never been a more exciting time to be a gamer." said Chris Lewis, regional vice president, EMEA, Home and Entertainment Division, Microsoft. "Xbox 360 will deliver mind-blowing experiences across multiple genres, no matter what your personal gaming preferences are. We're excited to be able to confirm this diverse games line-up for day one, but it's only the beginning. Gamers everywhere will be overwhelmed with the pipeline of amazing Xbox 360 games yet to come."

Xbox 360 Accessories

Allowing gamers to customise and enhance the Xbox 360 experience, 13 Xbox 360 Accessories will be available on launch day:

Xbox 360 Hard Drive (20 GB)
Xbox 360 Memory Unit (64 MB)
Xbox 360 Faceplate
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
Xbox 360 Controller
Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit
Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery Pack
Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter
Xbox 360 Headset
Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote
Xbox 360 Component HD AV Cable
Xbox 360 Advanced AV Cable
Xbox 360 VGA HD AV Cable

Xbox Live Arcade Launch Line-up

Adding to the already tremendous line up of launch day titles, Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360 will offer between 12-15 bite-sized game titles on day one. With Xbox Live Arcade, casual and hardcore gamers alike will find a wide variety of game genres for download, spanning action arcade titles such as Geometry Wars Retro Evolved (Bizarre Creations) and Mutant Storm Reloaded (PomPom Games), coin-op and retro classics such as Xbox Live multiplayer-enabled Joust (Midway Home Entertainment) and Gauntlet (Midway Home Entertainment), puzzle games such as Hexic HD (MGS) and Bejeweled 2 (Popcap Games), casual sports games such as Bankshot Billiards 2 (pixelStorm Inc.), light strategy titles such as Outpost Kaloki (Wahoo Studios), and card and board games such as Hardwood Backgammon )Silver Creek Entertainment) and Hardwood Hearts (Silver Creek Entertainment). Each Xbox Live Arcade game includes a free downloadable trial version so game players can try before they buy.

Xbox Live Retail Offerings

With nearly three quarters of all Xbox 360 launch games Xbox Live multiplayer enabled, there's never been a better time to get connected. And three Xbox Live retail offerings will hit stores from 2nd December, providing an easy way for gamers to jump right in to the action no credit card required. Gamers can purchase a twelve-month membership card for ERP GBP39.99, a three month membership card for ERP GBP14.99, or a Marketplace Points Card for ERP GBP17.50, providing flexible options for whatever suits a gamer best.

Source: Microsoft UK Press