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Press Release

Prepare for the Evolution: New Xbox Experience to Invite Everyone in on Nov. 19

Xbox also delivers great value, great games with new holiday offer that appeal to all.

TOKYO — Oct. 8, 2008 — Get ready. The evolution is coming. Microsoft Corp. today announced at the Tokyo Game Show 2008 that the New Xbox Experience, a transformation in home entertainment, will launch on Wednesday, Nov. 19. On that day, millions of Xbox 360 owners worldwide will experience a completely new Xbox 360 that is fun, social and simple to use — and puts more entertainment at their fingertips than any other device connected to the TV.

Not one of the millions who already have the Xbox 360 at the heart of the family room? No problem. Microsoft also announced that beginning this month, buy any Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, and games are free.

It is now easier than ever to get the most affordable next-generation console and some of the season’s best and broadest games. For an estimated retail price (ERP) of $199.99 ERP (U.S.), the Xbox 360 Arcade holiday offer comes with six games, including “Sega Superstars Tennis” and five Xbox LIVE Arcade games. In addition, the Xbox 360 console ($299.99 ERP) and Xbox 360 Elite ($399.99 ERP) holiday offers pair the consoles and the promise of the New Xbox Experience with two amazing games: “LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures” and “Kung Fu Panda” — at no added cost.

“Our industry is defining the future of entertainment,” said John Schappert, corporate vice president of Interactive Entertainment, LIVE, Software and Studios, while at the Tokyo Game Show 2008. “When the New Xbox Experience launches in just six weeks, we will be inviting the whole world to play. We will also have the games that everyone will want, including all-new social experiences like ‘Lips,’ ‘Scene It? Box Office Smash,’ and ‘You’re In the Movies,’ all launching this holiday, all exclusively on Xbox 360.”

With the launch of the New Xbox Experience¹ on Nov. 19, Xbox 360 owners will enjoy the following:

·         Entertainment without limits. Xbox 360 invites you into a limitless world where the best games, movies and TV shows live side by side with your personal pictures and music library, and ready to share your fun anytime with friends across the globe through Xbox LIVE.

·         Xbox LIVE Party. Xbox 360 allows you to create a virtual party on your TV with up to seven friends. With LIVE Party, voice chat while you play games, share photos in real time² and entertain friends all over the world.

·         Personality plus. Create a customizable, animated avatar and literally jump into the world of Xbox LIVE. Your avatar is your game-face throughout the New Xbox Experience and represents your personality — whether you are a LIVE Party host or chatting with a friend. With custom avatars created by the more than 14 million members worldwide, Xbox LIVE will have as many avatars as Tokyo has residents.³

·         On-demand entertainment. Xbox 360 is home to the best TV and movie entertainment, including more than 12,000 exclusive films and TV episodes from Netflix Inc., and a large online library of on-demand high-definition TV shows and movies from partners such as Constantin, Disney, MGM, NBC Universal Inc. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.⁴

·         Games for the community, by the community. For the first time in the history of console gaming, thousands of games developed by the creative community will be available to the public. The Community Games channel on Xbox LIVE will include games made by students, hobbyists, and average people all around the world and will be exclusive to Xbox LIVE.

When the New Xbox Experience launches this fall, it will join the best and broadest Xbox 360 entertainment lineup of games ever. Whatever your passion, Xbox 360 has games for you. Only on Xbox 360 can you unleash your inner diva with “Lips,” live your favorite movie moments with “You’re in the Movies” and “Scene It? Box Office Smash,” and find Xbox LIVE Arcade favorites such as “Castle Crashers” alongside indie favorites like the smash hit “Braid.”

·         Music. Xbox 360 is the preferred stage for the best music games, including “Lips,” “Rock Band 2,” “Guitar Hero World Tour” and “DanceDanceRevolution^® UNIVERSE3.”

·         Family. Xbox 360 gets the whole family playing with titles such as “Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts,” “Dig Dug Stylish Edition,” “PacLand” and “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise.”

·         Sports. Xbox 360 remains the best place to play sports titles, including leading franchises such as “Madden NFL,” “Tiger Woods PGA Tour,” “NBA Live,” “NHL 2K” and more.

·         Blockbusters. “Final Fantasy XIII” will be available on Xbox 360 at launch in North America and Europe. And Xbox 360 is the only place gamers can play the year’s biggest games, such as “Gears of War 2,” “Fable II” and exclusive “Grand Theft Auto IV” episodes.