Xfire Launches First Social-Shopping Game Store

Xfire brings unique online shopping experience to its 14.5M users

• Press Release
• Source: Xfire, Inc.
• On 2:16 pm EDT, Tuesday October 27, 2009

MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Xfire, the leading online gamer community with 14.5M users, today announced the launch of the Xfire Game Store -- the first social-shopping game store. Social interactions on the Xfire network serve not only to empower gamers to discover, share, and play games but also to influence them to buy games their friends play.

For the first time, gamers will discover and purchase games based on various forms of social interactions with their friends on the Xfire site, such as:

• Reading in the Activity Report about new games their friends have recently purchased and are playing for the first time,
• Visiting Xfire Communities and Forums to see who among their peers have purchased and played new games,
• Watching Live Video Broadcasts of gameplay by friends, gamer celebrities and game developers, and
• Viewing gamer profiles, including game hours and purchases, on the Xfire application and website.

Initially, the Xfire Game Store will launch with several social shopping features and additional ones will be rolled out over time. Today marks the launch of four stores in the United States, UK, Germany and the greater European Union.

"The launch of the Xfire Game Store will expand Xfire's revenue beyond advertising to e-commerce," said Chris Kirmse, General Manager. "Leveraging our large, fast-growing, loyal, and engaged community of 14.5M users mainly from North America and Europe, we believe that Xfire can become one of the leading destinations for digital distribution of games. We believe that our social architecture will provide unique sales and marketing opportunities for publishers resulting in increased sales."

"This is a great opportunity to put our titles in front of large and loyal PC gamers. We're thrilled to distribute our games through the Xfire Game Store. Digital distribution contributes a significant portion of our revenue and I'm excited to see Xfire entering into this growing market," says Christian Svensson, VP, Strategic Planning and Business Development at Capcom. "Given the Xfire user demographic in North America and Europe, we believe that our titles will have a great appeal to their users".

Kirmse added, "A recent survey indicated that 75% of Xfire users have purchased digital content. Subsequently, we believe our users will feel inclined to purchase games from the same destination where they socialize and play their favorite games".

"The digital distribution market for games is expected to triple over the next five years reaching nearly $9 billion by 2014. Xfire's users play all types of PC games from hardcore games to casual games, MMO and F2P games. It makes sense for Xfire to leverage their large PC game user base by entering into the digital distribution market segment. I anticipate that many users will naturally purchase games while using Xfire's platform as part of their gaming experience," says David Cole, Industry analyst and Principal at DFC Intelligence.

About Xfire

Xfire, Inc. is one of the fastest growing online gaming platforms and communities in the world, helping gamers easily connect, chat, and play with their friends online. Xfire is a free service that allows gamers to communicate through IM and voice chat, capture video and screenshots, broadcast live video, surf the web while gaming and track their gaming statistics. With 14.5 million members in over 100 countries, Xfire is an international community connecting gamers across the globe. Xfire is a wholly owned subsidiary of MTV Networks and is based in Menlo Park, CA.

About Capcom

Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices. Founded in 1983, the company has created hundreds of games, including best-selling franchises Resident Evil®, Street Fighter®, Mega Man® and Devil May Cry®. Capcom maintains operations in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Tokyo and Hong Kong, with corporate headquarters located in Osaka, Japan. More information about Capcom can be found on the company web site, www.capcom.com.

About DFC Intelligence

DFC Intelligence is a strategic market research and consulting firm focused on interactive entertainment and the emerging video game, online game, interactive entertainment and portable game markets. Since 1995 DFC has published in-depth strategic market reports and subscription-based research services. DFC research is used by over 300 leading companies in over 30 countries worldwide.

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