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With Microsoft's Games for Windows reveal last week, where they announced all Games for Windows titles would be allowed to access a fully functioning Xbox Live without the need for a Gold account, comes word that ALL cross-platform titles on the Xbox 360 will be allowed access multiplayer functionality as well. Though, only for a limited time.

Shacknews confirmed the news with Microsoft which ultimately means that anyone who owns Universe at War, Shadowrun or Lost Planet: Colonies Edition on the Xbox 360 can play multiplayer online against 360 and PC Live members with a free Silver Xbox Live account. The catch being that this free Xbox 360 cross-platform gaming is more of a promotion and will only last until the rollout of the Fall update later this year. So, if you're part of the Silver crowd, own 360 versions of any of the games listed above and have the urge to play online, you better enjoy it while it lasts. Your freeloading time is limited.

[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]

When Microsoft recently flipped the switch to turn Games For Windows Live into a free-for-all, several cross-platform multiplayer games apparently brought their Xbox 360 denizens with them. That's right, all three cross-platform titles (Shadowrun, Universe at War: Earth Assault and Lost Planet: Colonies) can be played online by any Xbox 360 user with a high-speed internet connection -- freeloading Xbox Live Silver account holders specifically -- according to a thread on Xbox Forums. Of course, the catch is you've got to have a copy of one of the participating game discs. So when Joystiq went to verify the reports, we realized our chest-o-games only contained the good ones. Any far less snobby readers care to shout out a "yea" or "nay" on the matter? [Update: X3F's Xav de Matos has confirmed that the Xbox 360 version of Lost Planet: Colonies can be played online using a Silver account.]

In the interim, we've contacted Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox 360, who told us we can expect Microsoft to issue an official statement shortly.

Update 7:10pm: And we've heard back from a Microsoft rep who tells us, "Last week we announced that we were taking off the Gold-only restriction for multiplayer gaming over Games for Windows- LIVE. For a limited time, we are offering free online multiplayer on Xbox 360/ Games for Windows titles that offer LIVE cross platform play. This promotion won't last, so we encourage everyone to take advantage of it while they can." You heard the man, go take advantage of it!

Petroglyph's last game had a pretty grand scale, putting the entire Universe at War and all, but they're pulling back their scope a bit for their next project with a planetary conflict. The company is currently crafting a "global online game" that will not only be massively multiplayer but will be free to play and funded by mictransactions.

We don't know a genre, but after Star Wars: Empire at War and Universe at War, we're betting on RTS. We're also betting it will be called Something at War, but we could be surprised on that one.

Much like the quests for a better mousetrap or to write a more perfect pop song than Rupert Holmes' "Escape," a great RTS on a console always seems to be maddeningly just out of reach. Developer Petroglyph's attempt on the great white whale, Universe at War: Earth Assault, is now available on Xbox Live for you to sample.

So here's our question for those that have played the demo (or the full game for that matter): Did it work? Are we any closer to finding the perfect combination of factors for console RTS greatness? Or are we back to Square Rupert One?

Major Nelson just sent a note our way informing us that a new Universe at War: Earth Assault demo is available for download off the Xbox Live Marketplace right this very moment. The demo is available to all Xbox Live subscribers, weighs in at a quite manageable 546MB and includes two of the three factions featured in the retail build. As always, we recommend you download, play, get an opinion then voice said opinion. Now, get to it!

Well kids, this is it. The first "next-gen" game evar is finally on its way to retail shelves. That's right, Dark Sector, the one time space stealth action game turned Eastern Europe stealth action game, will soon see the light of day. Is it any good? We'll have to wait and see. But wait! There's more! Not only are we getting Dark Sector this week, but also Universe at War: Earth Assault and Viking: Battle for Asgard. Viking is a hack and slash action game in the vein of God of War, while Universe at War: Earth Assault is a new entry in the RTS genre. Readers may recall that Universe at War is somewhat unique as it offers cross platform play between the PC and Xbox 360. Given the 360's lack of mouse and keyboard support -- and the fact that the PC version has been out for months -- we're anxious to see if console players will even stand a chance.

[Via Joystiq]

Universe at War: Earth Assault, the upcoming SEGA published and Petroglyph Games developed title, is yet another real-time strategy game being shoehorned into a console control scheme. The difference between UaW:EA and other console-ported RTS titles is the inclusion of cross-platform play with the, already released, PC version -- a first for a third-party publisher. While on the surface UaW:EA seems complex, the Starcraft-esque three-different factions system, showcases the title's simplicity and accessibility.

The three factions, the Novus, Hierarchy and Masari are completely different in almost every respect and should make re-playability (other than online modes) one of the strongest bullet-points on the retail package. While we're a fan of the PC version, we wonder how the Xbox 360 version will control and what the balance will be when the PC crowd goes head-to-head with the Xbox 360 crowd.

Universe at War: Earth Assault is set to his retail on March 25, 2008 for the Xbox 360. Above is the trailer for the Novus faction, Hierarchy and Masari trailers await you after the jump.

Eurogamer has revealed the European release dates for the first quarter releases from Sega. Most notable to us, of course, are the 360 games on the list. Probably the biggest title on the list is Condemned 2: Bloodshot, the sequel to one of the 360's better launch titles, which releases March 14 across the pond. The other titles on the list are as follows:

• The Club - February 8
• Universe at War - March 7
• Viking: Battle for Asgard - March 28
• SEGA Superstars Tennis - March 28

Naturally, we can expect that these titles should hit North America at approximately the same time. Anyone out there looking forward to any of these titles?

Universe at War: Earth Assault enters the market during a time we're calling: "Publishers at War: Wallet Assault." UaW probably benefits from there not being a plethora of high-profile sci-fi RTS games entering the market at the same time. The reviews don't have a lot of negative things to say about the game, so if you're looking for a solid sci-fi RTS during the holiday season, UaW seems like a good choice. We're still curious to see how the Xbox 360 version plays when it releases early next year.

• Game Informer (83/100): "Like Blizzard's RTSs or Command & Conquer, Universe at War requires a hands-on approach to command. Adept focus-firing, forcing enemies into bad unit matchups, resource harassment, and the like will carry the day more often than out-gathering your opponent – especially given the particularly binding population cap."
• Games Radar (80/100): "Universe at War takes a lot of chances, and most of them pay off in the form of a unique real-time strategy experience. Just grin and bear the campy story and you'll find plenty to love here."
• 1UP (70/100): "Each side handles resources differently, too, which will likely wind up separating the UAW lovers from the haters. Both the Hierarchy and Novus simply send out harvesting units to automatically appropriate junk far-flung across the map, while the Masari simply construct structures anywhere, which generate resources indefinitely. That means multiplayer battles focus more on breaking main bases and less on the localized miniskirmishes that are some other RTS games' hallmark."

If you're looking for some Play & Win opportunities, then garsh darnit you've come to the right place. Open for registration and about to begin are three (count 'em, three) Play & Win contests over on Xbox.com that run the gamut of gamers. We've got an Xbox Originals Play & Win that runs from December 4th-5th, a LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga Play & Win that takes place between the 7th and the 9th and a Universe at War Play & Win between the 14th and 16th. There's all kinds of prizes to be won and rules to be read, so make the jump and register quick as a gopher! And remember, variety in Xbox Live sponsored Play & Win contests is the spice of life.

Read - Xbox Originals Play & Win
Read - LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga Play & Win
Read - Universe at War Play & Win

We haven't been keeping close tabs on Universe at War, but we're starting to think we should. Loads of new gameplay videos have been released this week, and Joystiq got some interesting info from the developers at Petroglyph. It was revealed earlier this summer that Universe at War would feature cross-platform play between Xbox 360 and PC, which understandably raises the hackles of any self-respecting gamer. Cross-platform play on an FPS is questionable, but an RTS? Downright impossible, right? Not so according to Petroglyph. According to the devs, UAW "is going to be the act to follow when it comes to RTS interface and control." We hope that's true, because the gameplay videos (embedded after the break) look very impressive. We particularly like the Novus and their ability to travel along power lines. Check out the videos and hope that the controls really do live up to Petroglyph's words.