Just two days after Sony disappointed its European Playstation fans by delaying the launch of the PS3 in Europe until March 2007, Microsoft gave them another reason to buy its Xbox 360 system instead — as if they needed one.

From September 20th until the 29th, Microsoft will be offering a free trial of its Xbox Live Gold Membership status to any of its European customers with a broadband connection.

The Xbox Live service gives gamers access to all of the Xbox 360 titles and allows users to play online multiplayer matches against thousands of opponents across the world. It also sports a number of other features including chat options, free trailer and information downloads and TrueSkill™ matchmaking system that helps pit you against your ideal opponent.

While a week of free Xbox Live service is probably not enough to sway most Playstation fans, it might be enough for those gamers who were on the fence with the Xbox last year and vowed to wait for Sony’s console.

Also cashing in on Sony’s foibles are the good folks at Nintendo, who plan to make an announcement in the next few weeks about the status of its upcoming Wii console. So far the company seems to be trucking along, claiming to have recently acquired the first shipments of the Wii’s “Broadway” microchips from IBM.

Sony may be on the verge of collapse, but its competitors are right on schedule.

Offical Xbox UK site [Xbox]
Free Xbox Live for Euro Gamers [Gamespot]

IBM Delivers Wii Chips to Nintendo [Cnet]

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