Microsoft has announced nearly 30 new titles carrying the Games for Windows brand, including the addition of games from major publishers such as Activision, Bethesda Softworks and Midway.

Microsoft has also announced strong support for the Games for Windows — Live online service, with Eidos, Sega and THQ signed on to deliver titles this year. In addition, Microsoft Game Studios unveiled plans to bring Gears of War and Viva Piñata to Windows XP and Vista gamers this year as Games for Windows-branded titles with Live support.

“Windows gaming is set to see one of its best years ever,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “With an incredible range of phenomenal titles, amazing hardware and the rapid adoption of Windows Vista, Windows gamers will remember holiday 2007 as a landmark year for PC gaming.”

Driving Force: Games for Windows

Microsoft’s Games for Windows initiative is in full swing and is set to deliver its strongest Windows portfolio lineup ever. Microsoft announced nearly 30 new Games for Windows-branded titles and will bring more than 60 Games for Windows-branded titles to store shelves, including the highly anticipated releases Crysis, Hellgate: London, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures and World in Conflict.

With approximately 2.5 million units of Games for Windows-branded titles already sold worldwide, the biggest names in gaming, including EA Partners, Atari, Midway, Sega, 2K Games and Activision, have committed to publish titles that deliver the quality, compatibility and safety features offered by games carrying the Games for Windows brand.

New titles announced at E3 include:

• Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties (Microsoft Game Studios)
• Bee Movie Game (Activison)
• BlackSite: Area 51 (Midway Games)
• Clive Barker’s Jericho (Codemasters)
• The Club (Sega)
• Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts (THQ)
• Empire Earth 3 (Sierra Entertainment)
• Fallout 3 (Bethesda Softworks)
• Flight Simulator X: Acceleration (Microsoft Game Studios)
• Gears of War (Microsoft Game Studios)
• Hour of Victory (Midway Games)
• John Woo Presents Stranglehold (Midway Games)
• Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights (THQ)
• Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (Eidos)
• Nancy Drew: Legend of Crystal Skull (Her Interactive Inc.)
• Operation Flashpoint 2 (Codemasters)
• Rise of the Argonauts (Codemasters)
• Rogue Warrior (Bethesda Softworks)
• Sega Rally Revo (Sega)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword (2K Games)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Gold Edition (2K Games)
• Spider-Man: Friend or Foe (Activision)
• Star Wars Empire at War: Gold Pack (LucasArts)
• The Witcher (Atari)
• Thrillville: Off the Rails (LucasArts)
• Turning Point: Fall of Liberty (Codemasters)
• Universe at War: Earth Assault (Sega)
• Viva Piñata (Microsoft Game Studios)
• Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals (Microsoft Game Studios)

In addition, Eidos, Sega and THQ announced their intention to join Microsoft Game Studios in supporting the Games for Windows — Live online service for Windows XP and Windows Vista. The first wave of titles to support the service includes the following:

• The Club (Sega)
• Gears of War (Microsoft Game Studios)
• Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights” (THQ)
• Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (Eidos)
• Universe at War: Earth Assault (Sega)
• Viva Piñata (Microsoft Game Studios)

Gears of War will emerge on Windows XP-based and Windows Vista-based PCs this with five new campaign chapters, a new multiplayer mode and a new game editor. Gears of War will also take advantage of DirectX 10 graphics technology, which is only available on Windows Vista.

Also Epic Games unveiled the addition of Games for Windows — Live integration to the award-winning Unreal Engine 3. This landmark announcement will make it easier than ever for game developers using Epic’s next-generation technology to take advantage of Microsoft’s online gaming network.

Games for Windows — Live titles enable gamers to easily find and communicate with their friends online, earn Achievements and play with others on Windows XP, Windows Vista and Xbox 360. The free Silver membership delivers the value that PC gamers take for granted in from an online service, offering free PC-to-PC multiplayer support and in-game voice chat, while going beyond with single-player support, including Achievements and a consistent Gamertag and Friends List across games.

Windows Vista has been embraced as Microsoft’s best version of Windows ever for gaming. After just seven months, nearly 10 million gamers are now running Windows Vista worldwide.