Xbox Live Fifth Anniversary festivities announced @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on November 13, 2007

News: Xbox Originals and a free copy of Carcassone for starters.

Microsoft has some big plans for the fifth birthday of the Xbox Live service. First and foremost, the company plans to add the 99th and 100th games to the Xbox Live Arcade with Screwjumper and Shrek N Roll this Wednesday. Both games will set you back 800 Microsoft Points.

Microsoft plans to follow that up on Thursday with an offer of a free download of Carcassone for all 8 million Xbox Live members. This offer will only be available on Thursday and if you already own Carcassone, you're probably out of luck. Thursday is also bonus day for everyone who's been a member of Xbox Live since 2002, Microsoft plans to deposit 500 Microsoft Points in your account as a thank you.

Finally, on December 4th, Microsoft will unleash the Fall Xbox Live update which will include the "Xbox Originals" program. For 1200 Microsoft Points each, Xbox 360 owners can download the greatest games the original Xbox had to offer and play them on their Xbox 360 with no discs required.

The first four titles available on the Xbox Originals service will be Halo, Psychonauts, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge and Fable. Microsoft has also promised that more will be added regularly. It is currently unknown if these games will be enhanced in any way or if Achievements will be added to them.

I expect Nintendo and Sony to counter with something major coming to their download services soon.

We'll have more on all the latest Xbox Live happenings soon.