Xbox Increases Momentum in Asia with Market Availability of Xbox Live in 2004

Xbox announced today that it will launch Xbox Live in Asia by 2004. Xbox is currently available in Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong.

"We are excited to be able to commit to making Xbox Live available in Asia next year," said Mr Alex Kotowitz, Senior Director, Xbox Asia. "We've had a tremendous response to Xbox since its launch in Asia. Our research indicates market readiness for Xbox Live; Asia has some of the highest broadband usage figures in the world with a very active online gaming community; while feedback from consumers, retailers and other partners point to a high awareness level of Xbox Live already and an urgency and anticipation to be able to participate in the Xbox Live community. With that and a rapidly expanding portfolio of games, we feel confident that Xbox Live will be exceedingly popular in Asia."

The Xbox console was launched in Asia in November 2002 and has shipped 850,000 units to Asia to date (this figure includes Japan). Xbox is currently available in over 500 selected retail outlets throughout Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Korea. There are currently over 30 game titles available across the region with the portfolio growing to 100 by the end of the year.

Namco, the Japanese game publisher, now joins an increasing number of game publishers releasing titles on Xbox for Asia. Namco's Soul Calibur II will hit the streets of Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan at the same time it is being released in Japan in March. The game is the long awaited sequel to Soul Calibur, the popular 3D weapon-based fighting action game.

Also being released in March in Asia are Kung Fu Chaos and Fatal Frame.

Kung Fu Chaos is a quirky game inspired by the '70's Kung Fu movie era while Fatal Frame is the newest survival-horror game about a girl who sets out to solve the mystery of her brother's sudden disappearance.

"We are upping the ante for Xbox in Asia," said Alex Kotowitz. "We have the most superior console in the market today. With our great games portfolio and the coming of Xbox Live, Asian gamers will get the best gaming experience possible."