Microsoft, the world’s leading producer of software, and Peter Jackson, the award-winning director of the Lord of the Rings films and King Kong, are teaming to create two interactive gaming franchises for the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant’s Xbox 360 console and Xbox Live Web gaming network, according to a Sept. 27 company press release posted on Yahoo Finance.The news was announced at Microsoft’s yearly X06 event in Barcelona, Spain. Microsoft Game Studios will join forces with Jackson and renowned screenwriter Fran Walsh to develop the two new gaming series, the first of which will be an extension of the popular game Halo, and the second will be completely original, according to the release. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe Jackson and Walsh will also partner with Microsoft Game Studios to form an organization called Wingnut Interactive that will be dedicated to creating interactive video games for use with the Xbox Live network. Last week, Microsoft announced that it would offer an HD-DVD add-on for use with Xbox 360, and that the device would ship in Nov. The firm confirmed at X06 that the drive will indeed ship within the U.S. in Nov., and said that it sell for $199.99. Microsoft also announced at X06 that the device will come with the HD DVD version of Jackson’s King Kong, as well as the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote.“Xbox 360 is changing the way developers are telling stories today—from the industry’s most beloved franchises to exciting new properties,” said Peter Moore, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of its Interactive Entertainment Business within its Entertainment and Devices Division. “We are inspiring the imaginations of the entertainment industry’s best and most creative talent to take their franchises in exciting directions, while also spinning new tales for everyone.” Check out the release for additional information on X06.Related Links: Microsoft Xbox 360 to Get HD DVD Microsoft Zune iPod Rival to Hit U.S. by Holidays Microsoft Looking Through WindowsThis article is posted on our Microsoft Informer page. For more news on the Redmond, Wash.-based powerhouse, keep checking in.Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content opinion CIOs worry about Gen AI – for all the right reasons Generative AI is poised to be the most consequential information technology of the decade. Plenty of promise. But expect novel new challenges to your enterprise data platform. By Mike Feibus Sep 20, 2023 7 mins CIO Generative AI Artificial Intelligence brandpost How Zero Trust can help align the CIO and CISO By Jaye Tillson, Field CTO at HPE Aruba Networking Sep 20, 2023 4 mins Zero Trust brandpost So, you’re ready to invest in Universal ZTNA. Here’s what you should know With careful evaluation and planning, implementing Universal ZTNA for all users offers a simple, effective way to enhance security across your entire network. By Peter Newton Sep 20, 2023 6 mins Zero Trust news ServiceNow boasts industry-first gen AI general availability with Vancouver release of Now Most major software vendors say they will incorporate generative AI in their applications; ServiceNow claims it will be the first to deliver the code. By Peter Sayer Sep 20, 2023 6 mins CIO Software Providers Zero Trust Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe