MCV Industry Excellence Awards

LONDON – 23 April 2010 - Last night, Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division was presented with the MCV Industry Excellence Awards’ highest accolade, the Grand Prix, at a gala dinner attended by over six hundred entertainment executives.

Chosen specially by the MCV team, the Grand Prix annually recognises a leading UK-based brand or company which has enjoyed both commercial and critical success, while also demonstrating the highest levels of trade level support.

“To be selected amongst over sixty publishers, developers and retailers, for what is arguably the UK video gaming industry’s most prestigious honor, truly is a humbling moment”, said Neil Thompson, General Manager of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division (UK & Ireland), in accepting the Grand Prix. “Looking to the future, we believe the best is yet to come and in the next 12 months we’ll see some truly magical experiences come to life in our industry. We really are at an inflection point, where we will only be bounded by the scope of our imagination. As an industry we will touch more people’s lives than ever before and I wish everyone a successful 12 months ahead.”

Upon awarding Microsoft with this prestigious accolade, MCV publisher Stuart Dinsey commented, “The Xbox 360 team is worthy winners of the Grand Prix. It was won for being true market leaders, driving sales of hardware, working brilliantly with third party licensees, supporting retail and showing true innovation with Xbox LIVE - by far the leading online games network today. The entire UK industry approved this choice so congratulations to everyone on the Xbox team.”

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About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is a superior video game and entertainment system delivering the best games, unique entertainment features and a unified online gaming network that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 has a portfolio of more than 300 games in nearly 40 countries. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/.

About Xbox LIVE

Xbox LIVE connects more than 23 million members across 26 countries to each other and the entertainment they love. Home of more entertainment from one remote than can be found from any device connected to the television, Xbox LIVE is also a unified online social network bringing friends together, no matter where they are — in the living room or across the world. More information and Xbox LIVE membership can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/live/bestoflive/connectnow.htm.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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