Xbox Live Debuts in Europe

Starter kits for the Xbox Live online gaming service have gone on sale in eight European countries. Microsoft and Xbox game vendors hope that the service will boost game sales per console, the primary factor in the console’s long-term profitability, by delivering unique game content and facilitating head-to-head game play.

Like the North American version of the service (launched Nov. 2002), the European Xbox Live service will offer downloadable content (such as new game scenarios) and a set of communication services to help game players come together, including matchmaking to locate players, a unique player ID (“gamertag”), the ability to check when friends are online, and voice communication between players. Customers buy a starter kit that includes a one-year subscription, connectivity software, a microphone-headset kit for voice communication, and a package of bundled games (which vary from country to country) that support online play. Users must have high-speed cable or DSL Internet access. Broadband Internet service providers supporting users of the service include BT Online (United Kingdom), T-Online (Germany), and Wanadoo (France). Starter kits retail for roughly the price of an Xbox game, estimated at €59.99 or £39.99