Xbox Live Launching In Portugal

BARCELONA, September 27 2006 - Xbox today announced the launch of Xbox Live in Portugal, bringing the innovative online gaming and entertainment service to Portuguese gamers and expanding its ever-growing community to 15 countries in Europe.

On November 2nd, Xbox Live will be open for business, with Xbox 360 gamers in Portugal able to sign up for the free Silver level of service or jump in to the full Gold experience directly from the Xbox 360 Dashboard (a free month of Xbox Live Gold membership comes with every Xbox 360 system). Both Silver and Gold members will be able to enjoy downloadable demos, video, extra content for games, and the runaway success story that is Xbox Live Arcade. Gold members can also enjoy multiplayer action in games like Project Gotham Racing 3, Perfect Dark and many more, including the ability to choose from a full calendar of events such as competitions and Game With Fame sessions.

As well as the service itself, Portuguese gamers will be able to enjoy a full range of Xbox Live accessories on 2nd November, including the eagerly-awaited Xbox Live Vision camera, the Xbox Live Wireless Headset and the Xbox Live Wireless Adapter.

"Xbox Live has already captured the imagination of gamers all over the world, with more than three million members and counting part of the Live community," said Richard Teversham, EMEA Director of Marketing and Platform, Xbox. "Now, gamers in Portugal can jump in to the Live community and reap all the benefits of Xbox Live quickly and easily."

Xbox 360 owners with a hard drive or Memory Unit will be able to access Xbox Live through almost any broadband provider. Xbox will be working with leading Portuguese ISPs to develop special offers to make it even easier to get online.

Xbox Live has become the premier online console gaming and entertainment destination - since Xbox Live launched in November 2002, more than 3 million gamers have spent over 2 billion hours on the network playing games online with their friends around the world and downloading more than 50 million pieces of gaming and entertainment content from Xbox Live Marketplace. Plus 1,300,000 text and voice messages are sent via Xbox Live every day - a figure set to explode with the launch of the Xbox Live Vision camera.

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 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, Xbox, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Encarta and Windows Mobile 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.

For more information, press only:

Eleanor Jones

The red Consultancy

eleanor.jones@redconsultancy.com

020 7025 6570

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