Xbox Live will launch at retail on 30th October in six more European countries: Austria; Denmark; Finland; Ireland; Norway; and Switzerland. This takes the total of Xbox Live-enabled European countries to 14, offering more European gamers the chance to play console games online than any other console platform. Xbox is working with broadband partners in each country to provide offers for their customers over the coming months. Microsoft is committed to continuing the development of broadband partnerships in Europe for Xbox and plans to make additional announcements regarding the six new launch countries in coming weeks.
“We’re excited to bring Xbox Live to even more European gamers, opening up the thriving European Xbox Live community to six new countries,” said Michel Cassius, senior director, Xbox platform and marketing. “We already have a global Xbox Live community of more than 500,000 gamers and now even more gamers can enjoy great social gaming experiences with Xbox Live, creating their legends and battling across a wide variety of fantastic games.”
New pricing options for Xbox Live in Europe were announced, combining value with greater flexibility to best suit gamers’ needs. Beginning December 2003 for trial-offer gamers and March 2004 for existing Xbox Live subscribers, Xbox Live annual subscriptions can be renewed for £39.99/€59.99 so gamers don’t miss out on a moment of Xbox Live gaming. Alternatively, gamers can choose a monthly pricing plan at £4.99/€6.99 per month after their initial one-year subscription expires, allowing them all the benefits of Xbox Live on an easy-to-manage monthly basis. Subscriptions can be renewed right from the Xbox Live Dashboard, giving gamers even more choice and convenience with their Xbox Live subscriptions. “We listened to our customers, and they told us they wanted flexibility when it came to renewing their Live subscriptions,” said Cassius. “We have introduced pricing options that will appeal to the wide variety of Xbox Live gamers - those who wish to manage their Live subscriptions on a monthly basis and those who prefer to renew on an annual basis. Either way, Xbox Live continues to provide extraordinary value as well as outstanding gaming experiences.”
For a limited time, special Xbox Live trial offer vouchers will be included within selected Xbox Live-enabled games from October, offering two free months of Xbox Live gaming with no obligation. Games include:
Gamers with an Xbox and a broadband connection simply sign up to Xbox Live using the included subscription code, the Xbox Live game they bought, and a credit card (for security/authentication purposes) and they can start playing any Xbox Live game immediately. For convenience’s sake, after two months gamers will be charged the Xbox Live monthly subscription rate of £4.99/€6.99 (or an annual subscription at £39.99/€59.99 if they so choose) unless cancelled by the gamer. Gamers will be notified by email before their trial membership is up, allowing them to cancel before any charges are made. The offer is valid until 31st March 2004.
“Trial opportunities are key to broadening the Xbox Live community,” said Cassius. “Our research shows that once gamers try Live, they find it hard to go back to competing against the computer. The trial offer provides an easy way to experience the Xbox Live community with no obligations.”
From 17th October the Xbox Live Communicator will be offered separately from the Starter Kit, for an estimated street price of £19.99/€29.99 - great for gamers who need to replace their Communicator or for trial offer participants, who can purchase a Communicator to get the most out of Xbox Live during their trial period and beyond. The Communicator headset is integrated with all Xbox Live multiplayer games and enables voice interaction with team-mates and opponents, voice masking, global muting and parental control. The Xbox Live Starter Kit will continue to include a free Xbox Communicator headset as well as a twelve-month Xbox Live subscription and special Live-enabled demo versions of MotoGP and MechAssault. The Xbox Live Starter Kit is available at retail for an estimated street price of £39.99/€59.99.
The Inaugural Xbox Live Clash of the Continents, held hte second morning at X03, will let the trash talkers put their money where their mouths are. Ten ace Xbox Live veterans, one from each European Xbox Live country plus the US and Canada, will compete for ultimate bragging rights, playing Rainbow Six 3 before it’s released from Ubi Soft to decide the ultimate Xbox Live champion. The winner will receive, as well as their trip to X03, a year’s supply of games from Microsoft Game Studios, a copy of Rainbow Six 3, and a trophy.
“The Xbox Live games lineup at X03 is amazing, and it’s just the beginning,” said Cassius. “With a wealth of online games offering more gaming experiences to a broadening audience and franchises like Halo, Project Gotham Racing and Splinter Cell on Xbox, gamers’ choices are getting easier all the time.”
Xbox constantly works to take Xbox Live to even greater heights by adding new features that deliver fantastic social gaming experiences. Some new features on the horizon include:
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