Microsoft launches UK Video on Demand store for Xbox 360

December 4, 2007 – Microsoft has announced the launch of a Video on Demand store in the UK as part of the autumn dashboard update for its Xbox 360 games console.

The dashboard update was made available today, and the video store will actually go live on December 11.  The store will offer UK customers standard-definition films for 250 Microsoft Points (around GB£2) and high-definition versions from 380 Microsoft Points (about GB£3.20).

“Xbox Live Marketplace Video Store in Europe is all about adding to the ever-expanding number of entertainment choices that our consumers have on their Xbox 360,” said Robin Truchy, Director of Xbox Live in Europe.  “We want to give them the entertainment they want, in the format they want, when they want it and at an affordable price.  We were already offering HD games, HD music videos and the option to enjoy HD-DVD format films, now we are offering HD movies to download and rent as well.  This is a very exciting time for us and the consumer.”

Titles available from December 11 will include The Matrix Revolutions, Ocean’s Eleven, The Perfect Storm, Swordfish, Superman 3 and The Fugitive.  This list is expected to increase as the service grows and gains support.

Arash Amel, Senior Analyst at market research firm Screen Digest, added: “The Xbox Live Marketplace Video Store, as the first multi-territory hardware-based online movie delivery service in Europe, is expected to be a European market leader for movie downloads.  Consumers in both the US and Europe have already made it abundantly clear that they are reluctant to watch two-hour long films on their PC, instead preferring to view them on portable devices or most preferably devices that can provide a link to their large-screen living room TVs and home entertainment systems.”

Other features included in the autumn dashboard update are DivX video playback functionality, the ability to download original Xbox games such as Halo, and a new Family Timer for curbing the amount of time children spend on the console.