X'03: Microsoft Talk Football News

During a developer unplugged session at the recent X’03 event, Ed Fries, Vice President of Xbox game content, addressed the question of when Xbox gamers will be able to play a football game online via Xbox Live!<br><br>With EA recent confirmation that the next season of sports titles would feature exclusive online support for the Playstation2, Xbox owners have been rightfully concerned that they’ll never be able to play a good game of football over Xbox Live! <br><br>Thankfully it appears that Microsoft recognise the need of a football title to boost support for Xbox Live! in both Europe and Japan. When the question was posed, Fries confirmed that both Microsoft and EA are in daily negotiations to bring EA games on to Xbox Live! Certainly a version of ‘FIFA’ appearing on Xbox Live! seems the most plausible at this stage, if the two conglomerates can finally reach a solution.<br><br>Fries recognised the power of the ‘Pro Evo’ series, whilst it seems unlikely at this stage, it was claimed that after an ‘on-off’ relationship Konami are back in touch with Microsoft and so the possibility of ‘Pro Evo’ appearing on the Xbox at some point cannot be ruled out at this stage.<br><br>Finally Fries claimed that a title could be developed internally, however thankfully acknowledged that none of the development teams within Microsoft Game Studios really have the expertise to do it.<br><br>So whilst an Xbox Live! football title still seems a long way off, it’s good to see that Microsoft are addressing the situation; we’ll have more details if anything develops on the sitation.