One of the worst kept secrets of the year in the gaming industry has now been confirmed by Microsoft in the US and is now available to buy in stores.

The Xbox 360 arcade will retail at a guide price of $279.99 and includes 5 games, a wireless controller, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connection to enable high-definition output if desired and 256 MB of memory useful for storing games and entertainment content The five best games are: PAC-MAN Championship Edition, Uno, Luxor 2 , Boom Boom Rocket and Feeding Frenzy.

“As families gather together this holiday, it’s the perfect time to launch a new low-priced, high-value Xbox 360 that plays games, TV shows and music for everyone to enjoy,” said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of global marketing, Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “In addition to offering an incredible all-in-one package for families to get right into the fun, the Xbox 360 Arcade system features the industry-leading Family Settings, which allow parents to control what their kids are watching and playing — and we know how important that control is to families around the world.”

The Xbox 360 Arcade is just the beginning of Microsoft's marketing strategy in which they are aiming to attract consumers other than hardcore gamers. The company has also announced that they're working on more family friendly content, including downloadable cartoons from Warner Bros' Looney Tunes library and the availability of three new Nickolodeon shows.