Microsoft Announces Additional Path of Entry to "Halo 3" Multiplayer Beta

Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios are ringing in the year with a proverbial bang, as they announced today another way for gamers to receive an invitation to participate in the "Halo® 3" multiplayer beta program coming this spring through Xbox Live® Marketplace.

Gamers will be able to receive an invitation by purchasing the upcoming game "Crackdown," which hits store shelves in the Europe on 23rd February 2007

The "Halo 3" multiplayer beta, which is a pre-release version of the multiplayer experience of "Halo 3," is scheduled for availability in spring 2007 exclusively on Xbox 360. The beta also represents an opportunity for gamers to participate in the testing and refinement of the multiplayer gameplay of "Halo 3," the most anticipated game of 2007. Through the resulting feedback, Bungie Studios will be able to further hone the end result of "Halo 3."

When "Crackdown" hits store shelves, gamers eager to take home a copy of the highly anticipated exclusive action title for Xbox 360 will find marked boxes of "Crackdown" that include an invite to participate in the coveted "Halo 3" multiplayer beta program when it becomes available. When the "Halo 3" multiplayer beta surfaces in spring 2007, owners of "Crackdown" with access to an Xbox 360 or an Xbox 360 Core System with hard drive and a valid Xbox Live Gold subscription simply need to load their copy of "Crackdown" into Xbox 360 and use the disc as a key to download the beta from Xbox Live Marketplace and join the battle in "Halo 3" multiplayer.

From Realtime Worlds, "Crackdown" pushes the action-driving hybrid genre into the next generation with a rich and immersive 3-D playground. Gamers level up their Agent's strength, agility, firearms, explosives and driving skills while scaling the fully vertical world of "Crackdown." This 15 BBFC rated game incorporates revolutionary co-op gameplay throughout the entire free-form campaign. Creating a volatile cocktail of judicial oppression, players will clean up the streets of a truly interactive world when "Crackdown" hits store shelves at an estimated retail price of £44.99.

For more information, press only:

Eleanor Jones

The red Consultancy

Tel. 020 7025 6570

Email. Eleanor.jones@redconsultancy.com

About Bungie Studios

Bungie Studios was founded in 1991 with two goals: to develop games that combine brilliant technology, beautiful art, intelligent stories and deep gameplay, and then sell enough of those games to achieve its real goal of total world domination. Over the past 10 years it has produced games such as the "Marathon Trilogy" and the first two "Myth" games, hailed as classics by critics and gamers around the world. Bungie's "Halo" franchise is an international award-winning action title that has grown into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 14.7 million units worldwide, logging over 800 million hours of multiplayer action on Xbox Live and spawning action figures, books, a graphic novel, apparel, an upcoming film adaptation and more. Bungie is currently at work on "Halo 3," which represents the third chapter in this "Halo" trilogy and is slated for release in 2007. More information on Bungie can be found at http://www.bungie.net.

About Realtime Worlds

Realtime Worlds' key staff has a tremendous history of creating some of the world's most innovative and best-selling video games, including the global hit franchises "Lemmings" and "Grand Theft Auto." The development team was hand-picked by David Jones, founder of DMA Design Inc. and the designer and creator of more than 15 hit titles including "Lemmings" and "Grand Theft Auto."

About Microsoft Game Studios

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox® and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Windows® operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows ( http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as "Age of Empires®," "Flight Simulator" and "Zoo Tycoon®"; Xbox and Xbox 360 ( http://www.xbox.com), including such games as "Gears of War" and franchises such as "Halo," "Fable®," "Project Gotham Racing®" and "Forza Motorsport"; and MSN® Games ( http://www.games.msn.com), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as "Bejeweled" and "Hexic®."

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is the most powerful video game and entertainment system, delivering the best games, the next generation of the premier Xbox Live online gaming network and unique digital entertainment experiences that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 is expected to have a catalog of 160 high-definition games by the end of 2006 and to be available in nearly 40 countries by the end of 2007. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.

About Xbox Live

Xbox Live is the first and only unified online entertainment network seamlessly integrated throughout the entire console experience, making it easy for people to find the friends, games and entertainment they want from the moment they power on their Xbox 360 system. Xbox Live connects millions of members across nearly 25 countries to enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via Xbox Live Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos, and movie trailers, as well as new game levels, characters and vehicles for all their favorite retail games. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.

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.

Microsoft, Halo, Xbox Live, Crackdown, Xbox 360, Xbox, Windows, Age of Empires, Zoo Tycoon, Fable, Project Gotham Racing, Forza Motorsport, MSN and Hexic are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.