"Bringing the Chessmaster series to Xbox LIVE Arcade makes the game accessible to a whole new audience,? said Peter Helm, business development associate at Ubisoft. "Chessmaster LIVE is not only a comprehensive chess program, but it is also one that has expanded beyond the traditional game to include exciting features for fans, both old and new.?

Chessmaster LIVE will feature:

• Hundreds of AI opponents to play in ELO-ranked matches
• Voice-chat and LIVE Vision capabilities for head-to-head matches
• New 3D chess sets inspired by luxury board designer, House of Staunton
• Five original chess variants, including the all-new Message Chess option, which will allow players to engage in a match over the course of days, weeks or even months

Chessmaster Live will be available for download in January 2008, while a PSP version is scheduled for a worldwide release in Spring 2008.