Microsoft and Namco Team Up for Xbox Alliance

REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 27, 2001 — Microsoft Corp. and Namco Ltd. today formally announced that Namco is developing four titles for the Microsoft® Xbox™
video game system. Namco is the latest Japanese developer to announce its support for Microsofts powerful new video game console.

Namco plans to bring the latest versions of two of its biggest franchises to Xbox: the popular racing series,
“RIDGE RACER LATEST Version,”
and the award-winning fighting game,
“SOUL CALIBUR 2.”
Two Namco titles are also under exclusive development for Xbox:
“Dead to Rights,”
a thrilling adventure about a cop framed for murder and facing execution who makes a daring escape and seeks revenge on those who killed his father and set him up, and a second, unnamed action-adventure title.

“At Namco, we are excited to work together with Microsoft on Xbox game development,”
said Masaya Nakamura, chairman and CEO of Namco.
“We initially will provide game titles that appeal to the avid video game consumer in the Xbox consumer space, and in the future we intend to provide games using the Xbox online game service.”

“Having Namco games available on Xbox is a huge victory for gamers around the world,”
said Robbie Bach, chief Xbox officer at Microsoft.
“We are delighted that, through Xbox, gamers worldwide will experience the thrilling titles produced by Namcos game creators.”

Detailed information about Namco is available at the Namco Ltd. Web site, http://www.namco.co.jp/ . Detailed information about Microsoft is available at the following Web sites, as well as via the FAXBOX information service: the Xbox Japanese Web site, http://xbox.jp/ ; the Microsoft Japan Web site, http://www.microsoft.com/japan/ ; and the Microsoft Corp. Web site, http://www.microsoft.com/ .

About Namco

Namco has been engaged in the amusement business for more than 45 years and is a world leader in the R & D, production and sales of home video games software, coin-operated game machines, and amusement facility operations.

About Xbox

Xbox ( http://xbox.com/ ) is Microsofts future-generation video game system that delivers new and unforeseen gameplay experiences. With more than three times the graphics performance of the newest generation of game systems, Xbox unleashes game designers creativity to produce games that are challenging, exhilarating, surprising and fun.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.

The information contained in this press release relates to a prerelease software product that may be substantially modified before its first commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the software product when first commercially released. The press release is provided for informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the press release or the information contained in it.

Microsoft and Xbox are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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