Xbox Live Arcade

Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers. Titles range from classic console and arcade video games, to new games designed from the ground up for the service. Games available through the XBLA service range from $5–20 in price, and as of August 3, 2011, there have been 411 Xbox Live Arcade titles released for the Xbox 360.

Prior to the Xbox 360, "Xbox Live Arcade" was the name for an online distribution network on the original Xbox, which was replaced by the Xbox Live Marketplace.

History

Xbox

The Xbox Live Arcade service was officially announced on May 12, 2004, at Microsoft's E3 press conference and launched on December 3, 2004, for the original Xbox game console. It was sent by mail on a disc that also contained a free version of the Ms. Pac-Man video game. To generate greater publicity for the service, the disc was also distributed with special issues of the Official Xbox Magazine and as part of the Forza Motorsport Xbox console bundle.<ref name="xbla1txb"...
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