Microsoft Reveals Xbox 360 Lineup

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

October 4, 2005, 5:32 PM

Microsoft began a full-court press to promote its upcoming Xbox 360 game console by making several major announcements at a press event in Amsterdam Tuesday. Also confirmed were several titles that will be made available when the new Xbox becomes available next month.

The company expects some 20 titles to be ready when the console launches, with up to 200 more currently in development. In comparison, the original Xbox only had about a half-dozen titles available at launch.

Some of the games available from Rare, a Microsoft subsidiary, include 'Kameo: Elements of Power,' 'Perfect Dark Zero,' and 'Project Gotham Racing 3.'

Electronic Arts also threw its support behind the Xbox 360, with EA vice president Gerhard Florin saying "the combined power of Xbox 360 and innovation from EA in graphics, animation and game play means consumers will have unprecedented levels of interaction and rich connection with the games they play."

EA Xbox 360 titles will include 'FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup,' as well as 'NBA Live' and 'Madden NFL.'

Franchise titles will also make their debut on Xbox 360, including a Superman video game, 'Call of Duty 2,' 'Castle Wolfenstein,' and 'Quake 4.'

"The biggest and the best names in publishing are committed to the success of Xbox 360, and looking at the titles we have announced tonight we are very excited," Microsoft's vice president of Xbox marketing Peter Moore said in a statement.

"From exclusive titles to debuting the next installment of some of the world’s best-loved franchises, Xbox 360 will redefine gaming and entertainment," he continued. "The high-definition era of gaming starts now.”

Microsoft's Xbox 360 will go on sale for $299 USD for a basic system on November 22. A model with a hard drive that gives users the capability to download older Xbox games would retail for $399 USD.