XBOX News: Japan Beta Ends / 250,000 Subscribers / XBOX Media Player

In XBOX LIVE news, this week was the subject of much news in the XBOX LIVE world. The biggest news perhaps was the announcement from Microsoft that 250,000 users have already subscribed and are playing XBOX LIVE. This really comes as no surprise based on our review of XBOX LIVE at THG. Still, this does suggest that at least for the moment, Microsoft is already out to a big lead in the online console sweepstakes.

In the mean time, the XBOX LIVE beta in Japan has ended. Beta testers in Japan had very positive feedback on the XBOX LIVE service. More than 5,000 users in Japan were involved in the Beta and 90% of those indicated that they will continue to use the service. The Beta testers had a very positive reaction to the voice communication and Gametag features of XBOX LIVE.

At CES, Bill Gates did reference one new XBOX product in his Keynote at CES that is scheduled for release this year. The product does not currently have name, but will be designed to move your media from place to place, allowing you to network your Xbox to your PC. Once this is achieved it would be then possible to play media stored on that PC on your television via the Xbox. This should come as no surprise as this has been the Microsoft plan all along, to integrate your XBOX into your home local network.

While Microsoft didn't have a lot to offer in the way of new XBOX information beyond this new media player concept for XBOX, Microsoft did say that they are currently very focused on delivering new titles for the XBOX LIVE service. Some titles that were mentioned included: Midtown Madness 3, Halo 2, Project Gotham Racing 2, and Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Microsoft and third party developers will need to quickly continue to keep the XBOX LIVE titles flowing in order to continue to significant momentum that XBOX LIVE has already achieved.