Microsoft Game Studios today announced that Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge for Xbox has gone gold and takes off for store shelves on October 21 for an estimated retail price of $49.99 (U.S.). Crimson Skies pulls out all the stops, launching gamers into some of the most heart-pumping, intense aerial warfare ever seen on- or offline. Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge raises the bar for aerial combat, combining thrilling dogfights with the swashbuckling style of a Hollywood action-adventure movie. Set in an alternate 1930s world of gunship diplomacy and sinister intrigue, gamers pilot powerful aircraft against nefarious air pirates and behemoth war zeppelins. But pilots won't be confined to their cockpits during combat, as it is possible to jump clear out of a plane and into stationary AA (Anti-Aircraft) guns for an added boost of firepower.

Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge for Xbox is armed to the teeth with full Xbox Live support. Up to 16 players can battle online or by System Link in an array of game modes including Dogfight, Team Dogfight, Flag Heist, Wild Chicken, Keep Away and Team Keep Away. Crimson Skies owners can also download fresh content, including new maps and planes, via Xbox Live.  More information about Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, as well as in-depth strategies and a fan site kit with all the trimmings, are available on the official site, at http://www.xbox.com/crimsonskies/.

Xbox Live, which launched in the United States Nov. 15, 2002, allows gamers to play multiplayer Xbox games with other gamers worldwide via a broadband connection. With a built-in hard drive and Ethernet port, the Xbox console is the only video game system built from the ground up for online gaming. Xbox Live enables gamers to easily find their friends; talk to other players during gameplay through the Xbox Communicator headset; download current statistics and new levels and characters to their Xbox hard drive; and play online -- all exclusive features to Xbox Live.

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for Windowsâ, Xbox® video game system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games/), including such franchises as Age of Empires®, Flight Simulator and Zoo Tycoon®; Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/), including such franchises as Halo®, Project Gotham Racing® and NFL Fever; and Zone.com (http://www.zone.com/), the official games channel for the MSN® network and home to such hits as Bejeweled and OutSmart™.

Xbox (http://www.xbox.com) is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified Xbox Live online service. The new tagline, “it’s good to play together,” captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.