Microsoft has today taken the opportunity to announce that there will be over eighty titles available for its next-gen console, Xbox 360, by the end of Jun 2006. Together with the likes of Eidos' Tomb Raider: Legend and Bethesda's Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, which are set to be released within the next three weeks, the company highlighted the following titles for the platform that will be launched by the end of the period (if not already available):

• 2006 FIFA World CupTM (EA SPORTS)
• Battlefield 2: Modern Combat (Electronic Arts)
• Blazing Angles Squadrons of WWII (Ubisoft)
• Burnout Revenge (Electronic Arts)
• Dynasty Warriors(r) 5 Empires (KOEI)
• Far Cry Instincts Predator (Ubisoft)
• FINAL FANTASY(r) XI (Square Enix, Inc.)
• Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (Ubisoft)
• Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend (Eidos)
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2K Games)
• The Lord of the RingsTM The Battle for Middle Earth IITM (Electronic Arts)
• The OutfitTM (THQ)
• Top Spin 2 (2K Sports)
• Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis (Rockstar Games)
• Rumble Roses XXTM (Konami)
• X-Men: The Official Game (Activision)
• Football Manager (Sega)
• Moto GP 2006 (THQ)
• Test Drive Unlimited (Atari)

Making the announcement Peter Moore, Corporate Vice President of Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft commented, "With 80 games available worldwide by June, and new content and experiences coming to Xbox Live all the time, there has never been a better time to own an Xbox 360."

In addition, Microsoft confirmed that over 10 million digital downloads have been completed via the Xbox 360's Marketplace since the console launched at the end of November 2005. Highlights on the service in the coming weeks include new cars and achievements for Bizarre Creations' Project Gotham Racing 3, new maps for Perfect Dark Zero, and an update to Rare's Kameo: Elements of Power that includes co-operative play. Demos from EA's Burnout Revenge and Battlefield 2: Modern Combat will also be making an appearance on Xbox Live Marketplace shortly. Microsoft also reiterated that new Xbox Live Arcade titles coming soon will include Capcom's classic beat-em-up Street Fighter II, and the free game Texas Hold 'Em Poker from Riverbelle.

Exact release details for the three Microsoft Game Studios titles (PGR3, Kameo, and PDZ) are yet to be announced.

We'll have more news shortly...