Ed Bland, a senior director of sales and marketing for the Xbox, told Reuters games will have to be on the market for at least nine months to be eligible for "Platinum Hit" status, with sales of about 350,000 to 500,000 units, though Bland said that figure can vary.

"It ends up being a great sort of impulse buy for consumers," Bland said.

The Xbox's biggest hit title to date, Microsoft's own "Halo," will not immediately move to the discount program, and will continue to retail for $49, as it has since it launched with the Xbox in 2001.

"It is doing very well at $49," Bland said, noting that it will move to "Platinum Hit" status at some point later in the future.

Bland also said "Platinum Hits" titles will get special packaging distinct from their previous boxes and will have additional display space at retail.

Sony Corp. launched a hits program for its PlayStation 2 console last year, and Nintendo Co. Ltd. unveiled one for its GameCube last week.