Microsoft Celebrates Five Years of Xbox Live With Free Stuff, Original Xbox Games

In celebration of the fifth anniversary of Xbox Live, Microsoft has announced that it will be offering its Carcassonne strategy game free for 48 hours to all service subscribers beginning at 12:01 am on November 15.

The game will be available free to users worldwide except those in Korea, who will have free access to Hexic 2 instead. As a special bonus for long-time members, anyone who subscribed to the service in 2002 when it first launched will also be given a bonus of 500 free Microsoft Points.

The Official Xbox Magazine has also reported that with the next Xbox 360 Dashboard update, gamers will have access to original Xbox games via download. Microsoft listed titles including Halo, Fable, Crash Bandicoot and Burnout 3, which will be available for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15) and said Microsoft plans to make more of its original Xbox catalog of titles available in the future. The next Dashboard update is due to arrive on December 4.

"In just five short years, Xbox Live has revolutionized the way friends and family have fun in the living room," said Microsoft Corporate Vice President John Schappert. "On its fifth birthday, Xbox Live truly is the place for hanging out with friends and enjoying downloadable TV shows, movies, videos, game add-ons and now downloadable Xbox games on demand."

More information about Microsoft's anniversary celebration, including contests, spotlights, all-night gaming sessions and a chance to play against Xbox Live game developers is available at Live Is 5ive.