Officials from Microsoft have announced that the X06 video game trade and media annual event will take place on September 27th and 28th this year, in Barcelona, Spain. Apart from 2004, the X0 events have occurred annually in Europe, since the launch of the original Xbox, and have frequently been used for high profile announcements such as the European pricing details for the Xbox in 2001, the acquisition of Rare in 2002 and the launch line-up of the Xbox 360 in 2005. Microsoft are also promising major announcements for X06, although there has been no hint as to their nature, beyond the implication that several previously unseen games will be shown for the first time. Unusually, X06 takes place just a week after the Tokyo Game Show, although the closeness of the two events is likely coincidence, but may help with announcement co-ordination. New Windows titles will also be demonstrated, and for the first time media and partners from South Africa, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland will be in attendance, following the launch of the Xbox 360 in these countries by the end of 2006. Commenting on the announcement, Chris Lewis, regional vice president, Xbox, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), said: “We are really looking forward to X06 in Barcelona and believe this will prove to be an amazing experience for gaming enthusiasts across Europe. We have some exciting announcements to make and even more to show people. X06 will firmly place Xbox 360 as the console of the next generation.”