Gamespot got the early scoop on an article that will run in next week's issue of Time Magazine, which includes an interview with Bill Gates about the Xbox 360 where he confirms earlier reports of a possible third Halo title : "Note to the hard-core faithful: the next version of Halo will not, repeat not, be ready in time for the launch of Xbox 360. It will be part of the all-important second wave next spring. 'It's perfect,' Gates says, radiant with bloodlust. 'The day Sony launches [the new PlayStation], and they walk right into Halo 3.'"

Today Microsoft Game Studios revealed its lineup for the coming E3 convention in Los Angeles. Amongst previously announced titles such as Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends Age of Empires III, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, Dungeon Siege II and Fable: The Lost Chapters, MGS will also be showing Zoo Tycoon 2 expansion pack ZT2: Endangered Species. Read more for details on the lineup...

Limelight Networks today announced it has been selected by Microsoft as the Content Delivery Network for Microsoft's Xbox Live, the online gaming service for the Xbox. With full implementation of Xbox Live on Limelight Networks' powerful delivery network, the synergy of Xbox Live and the Limelight Networks platform will provide millions of gamers unprecedented online access to games, content and downloads from Microsoft and leading game developers directly via Xbox Live.

While Phantagram announced it a few months ago, Microsoft announced today that it will distribute the next saga of the epic action-strategy game Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes exclusively for Xbox in late summer 2005. Read more for details & the very first screens ...

Microsoft Corp. today unveiled its all-star lineup of award-winning publishers committed to making the leap into the HD Era on Microsoft's next-generation Xbox platform. Read more for details ...

Epic Games today announced that its Unreal Engine 3 technology and tools will be used in games developed by and published by Microsoft Game Studios.

AGEIA Technologies announced today that its NovodeX Physics SDK will enable unmatched performance for game developers targeting the next generation Xbox platform. As a result, users of the Xbox video game system from Microsoft will be able to enjoy some of the most exciting, lifelike game experiences available on any platform.

Today at the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC), Microsoft Corp. announced the first details of its next-generation Xbox, highlighting how hardware, software and services are being fused to power enhanced game and entertainment experiences. Read more for details on new features such as custom playlists, marketplace, gamer cards etc..

Today at the Game Developers Conference, Microsoft Corp. announced new XNA software that will enable enhanced collaboration between content creators, programmers, management and quality-assurance staff members to speed the game production process. Based on the Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team System, the latest innovation of the company's flagship development platform, XNA Studio is an integrated, team-based development environment tailored for game production.

In another creative coup for its next generation Xbox platform, Microsoft today announced that developers Yoshiki Okamoto, President & CEO of Game Republic (formerly known for Capcom titles like Onimusha, Final Fight et Street Fighter), and Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Creator and Co-founder, Q Entertainment (known for Sega titles like Rez and Space Channel) have aligned with Microsoft Game Studios to develop exclusive next-generation Xbox games.

Infinium Labs will present its flagship Phantom Game Service, built on Microsoft Windows XP Embedded, in the Microsoft booth No. 1602 in San Francisco's Moscone Center during CMP Media's Embedded Systems Conference (ESC), Sunday to Thursday, March 6 - 10, 2005.

Microsoft today announced that Hironobu Sakaguchi, video game legend and president of Mistwalker game studio, has joined with Microsoft Game Studios to develop role-playing game (RPG) video games exclusively for the next-generation Xbox video game platform. Sakaguchi is best known as the creator of the "Final Fantasy" franchise.

Microsoft's corporate vice president J Allard will deliver a keynote address at the 19th annual Game Developers Conference (GDC). Entitled "The Future of Games: Unlocking the Opportunity," Allard will discuss Microsoft's commitment to the next generation of interactive entertainment. Possible Xbox 2 announcement? We will be on site and report as it happens, or not.

Microsoft Europe today announced it will publish Tecmo's Project Zero 2: Crimson Butterfly. No further details or release date have been announced yet.

Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios today announced a movie-style promotional campaign for the launch of the most anticipated game this year, Halo 2. Beginning today and continuing through August, a Halo 2 theatrical trailer will be shown in more than 1500 Loews Cineplex Entertainment movie screens in the U.S. before many of the hottest films of the summer.

Microsoft today announced that it will publish the Xbox version of Outrun2 in North America, due to ship to retail stores this October. OutRun2 is the sequel to the famous game that made its first appearance in arcades across the world 17 years ago.

Windows XP users now have a start-to-finish solution that makes it easy for them to find the most compelling games for their personal computer. The Windows XP Game Advisor answers the commonly asked questions, “What game should I buy? Is it appropriate for my children? Will it run on my computer?” The Windows XP Game Advisor lets people try before they buy. They can look at screenshots, watch trailers, try a free demo and then order the game online, knowing that the game can be played on their PC.

Yesterday a rumor started going around that the Xbox 2 would not be backwards compatible, but today TeamXbox got an official statement from Microsoft : “Recent stories in the press about future Xbox products are nothing more than pulp fiction. Microsoft hasn’t made any announcements regarding the next generation, so it’s far too early to speculate about specifics, including backward compatibility. In fact, this media conjecture is irresponsible. The credibility of any publication willing to compromise fact in favor of a catchy headline must be questioned. Xbox fans are smart enough to distinguish truth from sensational reporting.”

This summer is going to be a scorcher with the addition of three new features and highly anticipated hits from distinguished third party publishers. With this unrivaled line-up, we plan to deliver on our promise of taking the online gaming experience to an unprecedented level. Read more for new features and 20 upcoming titles supporting Xbox Live!

While Microsoft has publicly avoided discussing its next generation machine, it has been quietly conducting studies on the consumer appeal of a hybrid device that would play both PC and Xbox games. The B/R/S Group, a California-based market research company that lists Microsoft and the Xbox division specifically as clients, has been gathering consumer feedback on a device it refers to as Xbox Next PC – "a videogame console system with a hard drive and a built-in fully functional PC." Mention of the device came on one of several slides shown to focus groups. Read more of it over at CNN Money.

Mythic Entertainment announced today that Mythic and Microsoft Corp., one of the industry leaders in computer software and technology, have reached a mutually acceptable settlement of the trademark infringement and unfair competition suit that Mythic filed against Microsoft last year in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, in Alexandria.

Before E3 officially kicked off, several of the biggest publishers have their annual pre-E3 conferences where they give speeches about past achievements and look ahead at things to come. Micrsoft had its pre-E3 conference on Monday, and we were treated to some exciting Xbox Live news, footage from the new Forza Motorsport racing game, several announcements, but above all, a live demo of Halo 2 multiplayer. Read on for our report ...

Microsoft Game Studios today unveiled its product lineup at this year's E3, featuring games for the Xbox and Windows. We have screens for the following titles :

• Halo 2
• Zoo Tycoon 2
• Dungeon Siege 2
• Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
• BC
• Forza Motorsport
• Fable
• Conker: Live and Reloaded
• Kameo: Elements of Power
• MechAssault 2
• Jade Empire
• Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
• Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict

Microsoft Corp. will continue breaking ground in the computer gaming arena next week, as Games for Windows establishes its presence at E3. The new Games for Windows booth will showcase platform-defining titles for Windows and make Microsoft the first company to host two booths in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. The booth will feature 20 games from the hottest publishers in the industry, including Electronic Arts, Atari and Sony Online Entertainment.

The first of a new wave of features on Xbox Live will greet subscribers when they log into the world's largest online gaming service after an update this Wednesday. Starting on Wednesday, April 21st at 6 a.m., Xbox Live servers will be offline for as long as 24 hours while new features are added. Once back online, gamers will be able to send Voice Messages with their friend and game invites to other gamers, further personalizing their online gaming experience.