Pacific City notes a dramatic increase in crime as the city’s gangs prepare for the ultimate “Crackdown,” exploding onto store shelves and Xbox Live on Feb. 20.

Microsoft Game Studios today announced that the highly anticipated action title “Crackdown™” has gone gold. From developer Realtime Worlds and the mind of acclaimed creator Dave Jones, “Crackdown” is poised to raid retail throughout North America on Feb. 20.

Boasting an immersive — and highly explosive — three-dimensional world in which players can rain down justice from rooftop to road, “Crackdown” offers gamers the opportunity to take down the gangs of Pacific City in a massive, single-player campaign or with a friend over the title’s cooperative mode via Xbox Live®.

“The excitement for ‘Crackdown’ is evident through the significant number of pre-orders and affirms the continued Xbox 360™ momentum in 2007,” said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of Global Marketing in the Interactive Entertainment Business Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft Corp.

Those gamers anxious to get an early glimpse at the title will be able to enjoy the “Crackdown” demo available through Xbox Live Marketplace this month. And, as previously announced, “Crackdown” fans will be offered a special bonus with the purchase of each specially marked copy: access to the coveted “Halo® 3” multiplayer beta program.*

From Realtime Worlds, “Crackdown” pushes the action-driving hybrid genre into the next generation with the first ever truly 3-D playground. Gamers will level up their Agent’s strength, agility, firearms, explosives and driving skills while scaling the fully vertical world of “Crackdown.” This M-rated game incorporates revolutionary co-op gameplay throughout the entire freeform campaign. Creating a volatile *****tail of judicial oppression, players will clean up the streets of a truly interactive world when ”Crackdown” hits store shelves at an estimated retail price of $59.99.

360-Hq Games Database: http://games.360-hq.com

About Realtime Worlds
Realtime Worlds’ key staff has a tremendous history of creating some of the world’s most innovative and best-selling video games. The development team was hand-picked by David Jones, founder of DMA Design Ltd. and the designer and creator of more than 15 hit titles.

About Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox® and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Windows® operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as “Age of Empires®,” “Flight Simulator” and “Zoo Tycoon®”; Xbox and Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com), including such games as “Gears of War” and franchises such as “Halo,” “Fable®,” “Project Gotham Racing®” and “Forza Motorsport™”; and MSN® Games (http://www.games.msn.com), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as “Bejeweled” and “Hexic®.”

About Xbox 360
Xbox 360 is the most powerful video game and entertainment system, delivering the best games, the next generation of the premier Xbox Live online gaming network and unique digital entertainment experiences that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 is expected to have a catalog of 160 high-definition games by the end of 2006 and to be available in nearly 40 countries by the end of 2007. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.

About Xbox Live
Xbox Live is the first and only unified online entertainment network seamlessly integrated throughout the entire console experience, making it easy for people to find the friends, games and entertainment they want from the moment they power on their Xbox 360 system. Xbox Live connects millions of members across nearly 25 countries to enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via Xbox Live Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos, and movie trailers, as well as new game levels, characters and vehicles for all their favorite retail games. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.