US to get budget Xbox 360 titles in October

Microsoft will release a range of budget-priced Xbox 360 titles for the US, labelled Platinum Hits, and due for release October 15th.

First-party titles Perfect Dark Zero, Project Gotham Racing 3 and Kameo: Elements of Power will join third-party game Need for Speed Most Wanted, all retailing at USD $29.99 (24 Euro).

A similar range was announced yesterday for the European market, as Microsoft initiates a variety of marketing drives to boost sales of the next-generation machine ahead of the launch of new consoles from Sony and Nintendo.

"Xbox 360 will have a tem million unit head start by the end of 2006, and there will be plenty of new console owners eager to jump in to the best-selling Xbox 360 titles," commented Mitch Koch, VP for worldwide retail sales at Microsoft US.