Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday it won exclusive rights to develop and publish multiplayer online games starring Marvel Enterprises Inc."s super heroes, including Spider-man, the X-men and the Hulk. The deal covers massively multiplayer online (MMO) game titles developed for Microsoft"s upcoming Xbox 360 gaming console and published by the software giant"s game studio.
The deal is Marvel"s first MMO pact. The first title is expected in 2008. "This is our one and only," Tim Rothwell, worldwide president of the Consumer Media Group at Marvel Enterprises, told Reuters, referring to the MMO pact. The MMO deal is Microsoft"s first for a console, although the company has previously had MMO deals for the PC.