(26 October 2007 5:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Call it sheer coincidence or the lure of Bollywood. Both gaming majors Microsoft Xbox Live and Sony Playstation are dangling the Bollywood carrot for their product launches in the competitive festive season ahead.

While Sony launched its game 'Singstar Bollywood' recently, now Microsoft Xbox Live has tied up with Percept Picture Company (PPC) for its upcoming animation film Hanuman Returns. The film is a sequel to the successful Hanuman which released in 2005.

Microsoft India chairman Ravi Venkatesan (left) and Percept Holdings joint MD Shailendra Singh.

Through this initiative, Percept will bring a whole new world of gaming and entertainment from Hanuman Returns content on the Xbox 360 Live. Moving forward Percept Picture Company will extend Hanuman through a series of animation films.

"We are excited to showcase the hugely anticipated Hanuman Returns on the Xbox Live service - a next generation platform for complete connected entertainment with an existing community of millions of users worldwide," said Percept Holdings Joint MD Percept Holdings Shailendra Singh.

Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division global president Robbie Bach said, "We have just celebrated the first anniversary of Xbox 360 in the country this year and it is with a celebratory spirit that we offer our Indian consumers even more entertainment options on Xbox 360. This is not only a firm reiteration of our commitment to the Indian market but also an exciting foray into connecting our Indian consumers to a world of 7 million Xbox Live members around the world."

Xbox Live is currently available in 25 countries across the globe. India will be the 26th market to launch Xbox Live.