MICROSOFT GETS A.I. EXCLUSIVES
May 16, 2001

Microsoft today announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Warner Bros. to develop and publish games for the Xbox and PC based on Steven Spielberg's A.I. Considered to be interactive sequels to the A.I. movie, three action-adventure games will be published by Microsoft for Xbox, two of which are slated for release this fall with the console's launch in North America on Nov. 8. A.I. Puzzler for the PC will be available in summer 2001.

"I wanted the games that will be inspired by 'A.I.' to be creative and groundbreaking," said Spielberg. "Microsoft really understands the 'A.I.' concept and presented me with a series of games scenarios that were out of this world."

"It is an honor for Microsoft to work with the creative genius Steven Spielberg and help bring his newest entertainment project to life," said Robbie Bach, senior vice president and chief Xbox officer for Microsoft. "'A.I.' is a futuristic story that pairs perfectly with the future-generation gaming experience of Xbox and the continual innovation of the PC. We will create engaging gameplay experiences to extend the compelling spirit and storyline of 'A.I.'"

A.I. is a movie shrouded in secrecy. To help preserve the film's secrets, the titles and genres of the Xbox games will not be unveiled until the movie is released.

A.I. Puzzler for the PC translates the story of A.I. into a collection of more than 130 puzzles designed by Alexei Pajinov, the creator of Tetris and Pandora's Box. Players journey through the A.I. movie as behind-the-scenes extras are unveiled when puzzles are conquered.