This Christmas Microsoft is set to offer over 160 Xbox 360 games, providing great gaming experiences for people of all ages in genres that appeal to everyone from experienced gamers to the whole family and including a staggering selection of exclusive titles.

Saturday, 2nd December, is the one year anniversary of Xbox 360 in Europe and its second Christmas season promises to be a booming success for Xbox 360, with consoles readily available at retail along with a host of new accessories such as the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel, Xbox Live Vision camera and Xbox 360 HD DVD Player.

In addition to that, some of the best games on any platform anywhere are available only on Xbox 360. Viva Piñata (MGS) offers the unique opportunity to create a pet paradise and nurture more than 60 different candy-filled piñata animals, while Gears of War (MGS) casts players as Marcus Fenix as he struggles against all the odds to subdue the Locust Horde on a visually glorious battlefield. Test Drive Unlimited (Atari) offers players the unique opportunity to race some of the most exotic sportscars ever built on 1000m of equally exotic Hawaiian road. Saints Row (THQ) throws players onto the mean streets of Stilwater tackling rival gangs in a bid to conquer the city, while Dead Rising (Capcom) takes survival horror to new heights teeming with undead swarms.

Viva Piñata (MGS), Gears of War (MGS), Test Drive Unlimited (Atari), Saints Row (THQ), Dead Rising (Capcom) and Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 (MGS/Tecmo) which transports the cast of the popular Dead or Alive 4 to the idyllic location of New Zack Island, – are all available exclusively on Xbox 360.

Football fans will have a lot to smile about this Christmas, as Xbox 360 will be the only place in Europe they can enjoy next-generation football. Pro Evolution 6 (Konami) updates the franchise with new animations and more attacking play, while FIFA 07 (EA) delivers a completely new game engine providing true next generation ball physics and player animations. Pro Evolution Soccer 6 and FIFA 07 are both next-generation exclusive to Xbox 360 in Europe this Christmas.

Xbox 360 is also the only place that gamers will be able to enjoy the following gaming action in next generation high-definition glory:

Lego Star Wars II (Activision)

Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega)

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 (THQ)

Rainbow Six Vegas (Ubisoft)

F.E.A.R. (Vivendi)

Phantasy Star Universe (Sega)

Star Trek Legacy (Ubisoft/Bethesda)

Tony Hawk’s Project 8 (Activision)

Tiger Woods PGA 07 (EA)

As well as being the only console to offer this incredible range of exclusives, Xbox 360 is the best place to enjoy blockbuster titles such as Need for Speed Carbon (EA), Call of Duty 3 (Activision), and Splinter Cell Double Agent (Ubisoft), all available in European retail stores before the end of the festive season.

The action continues in the New Year with the hotly anticipated Lost Planet: Extreme Condition (Capcom) coming exclusively to Xbox 360 in January.

Xbox 360 also offers a great mix of original, independent games and classic arcade titles via Xbox Live Arcade - the premiere destination for downloadable games. By Christmas players will be able to enjoy a wonderfully diverse library of titles including Small Arms (Gastronaut Studios), Novadrome (Buena Vista Games), Assault Heroes (Wanako/Vivendi Games), Heavy Weapon (PopCap Games), Defender (Midway) and Contra (Konami).

Since its launch on 2nd December, 2005, Xbox 360 has gained impressive traction fast. Xbox 360 was the fastest console to reach 5 million sold, and 6 million Xbox 360 consoles had been sold by the end of September 2006. At least 10 million are expected to be sold by the Christmas season and Xbox 360 is also expected to be available in 37 countries by Christmas. With more than 4 million members and an expected 6 million by June 2007, Xbox Live continues its leadership as the first and most comprehensive online games and entertainment network seamlessly integrated throughout the entire Xbox 360 experience.

“Xbox 360 offers the broadest and deepest selection of mind-blowing experiences this Christmas. We’re excited, just one year after launch, to be able to offer such a diverse games line-up offering exclusive new titles and established blockbusters,” said Chris Lewis, Regional Vice President, EMEA, Home and Entertainment Division, Microsoft.