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Microsoft Game Studios today announced that RalliSport Challenge 2, the highly anticipated second installment in the internationally acclaimed RalliSport Challenge franchise, will be the first Xbox racing title in the new XSN Sports brand. The game is scheduled to be available in the spring of 2004. RalliSport Challenge 2 joins other announced XSN Sports games shipping this fall, including Amped 2, Links 2004, NBA Inside Drive 2004, NFL Fever 2004, NHL Rivals 2004 and Top Spin. RalliSport Challenge 2 is being developed by Digital Illusions CE.

Combining the high-octane action of numerous rally sports into one game, RalliSport Challenge 2 offers gamers several new features, such as online play via the Xbox Live service, the ability to set up personal rally tournaments using XSNsports.com, and more than 40 of the most challenging rally cars, including the infamous Group B cars that were banned from racing because of how dangerous they were.

“With the addition of XSN Sports technology, ‘RalliSport Challenge 2’ will redefine the racing genre,” said Ed Fries, vice president of Microsoft game content at Microsoft Corp. “Gamers have been looking for ways to compete at an entirely new level. XSN Sports takes them to that level by tracking times and organizing tournaments to find out who truly is the best racer in the world."

XSN Sports and RalliSport Challenge 2 will enable gamers to battle their friends in a personalized and password-protected rally circuit, challenge top-ranked online competitors in a worldwide tournament, or settle scores with bitter rivals — all from the comfort of their living room. XSNsports.com will provide gamers with their own virtual sports page of their exploits and broadcast up-to-date times and standings every 15 minutes.

In addition, RalliSport Challenge 2 will showcase a variety of new features:

• Five unique rally sports: conventional Rally, Hill Climb, Rallycross, Ice Racing and the new Crossover Duel
• An updated graphics engine with realistic vehicle physics, complete with damage modeling and performance degradation
• Tracks from Australia, the frozen Nordic tundra and the Pacific Northwest in variable weather conditions including rain, snow and fog
• New camera angles that focus on spectacular crashes