Download movies to your Xbox 360 this Christmas

Great news for movie lovers… Microsoft has announced that Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store will open for business in the UK on 11th December. This means that Xbox 360 owners will be able to rent full-length films such as 300, The Good German, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from 250 Microsoft Points (estimated retail price of £2) for Standard Definition movies and from 380 Microsoft Points (estimated retail price of £3.20) for High Definition movies.

This launch makes Xbox LIVE Marketplace the first video on demand service to be available in six countries – US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France and Germany.

“Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store in Europe is all about adding to the ever-expanding number of entertainment choices that our consumers have on their Xbox 360,” said Robin Truchy, Director of Xbox LIVE for Europe, Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division. “We want to give them the entertainment they want, in the format they want, when they want it and at an affordable price.”

Arash Amel, Senior Analyst, Head of Broadband Media, Screen Digest, added: “Consumers in both the US and Europe have already made it abundantly clear that they are reluctant to watch two-hour long films on their PC, instead preferring to view them on personal devices or most preferably devices that can provide a link to their large-screen living room TVs and home entertainment systems.”

Xbox 360 owners in the launch countries can access Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store with either an Xbox LIVE Silver or Gold membership and a broadband connection.