MS offers free Xbox Live Gold trial

Microsoft is offering all Xbox Live members a complimentary three day Gold membership trial between the 28th and 31st January.

According to Microsoft mouthpiece Major Nelson, that's not the only treat in store for Xbox 360 users in the coming weeks. Between the 25th and 31st January you'll also be able to get 50 per cent off a range of content from 2K games, including DLC for GTA IV, Red Dead Redemption, Borderlands and Bioshock 2. Nelson will post firm details on the morning the promotion begins.

The Xbox Live release schedule for the next fortnight has also gone live, boasting plenty of Castlevania: Harmony of Despair DLC, Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 for Xbox Live Arcade and a Games on Demand release for The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena.

Here are the dates for your diary:

Xbox Live Arcade:

• 26th January: Breach, 1200 Microsoft Points
• 2nd February: Bionic Commando Rearmed 2, 1200 Microsoft Points

Xbox Live Game Add-ons:

• 26th January: Castlevania Harmony of Despair Playable Character Simon Belmont, 160 Microsoft Points
• 26th January: Castlevania Harmony of Despair Origins Stage Pack , 240 Microsoft Points
• 26th January: Bomberman Live: Battlefest Bomb-Up Pack III , 240 Microsoft Points
• 1st February: Call of Duty: Black Ops First Strike , 1200 Microsoft Points
• 2nd February: Castlevania Harmony of Despair The Legend of Fuma Stage Pack 240 Microsoft Points
• 2nd February: Castlevania Harmony of Despair Playable Character Getsu Fuma, 160 Microsoft Points

Xbox Games On Demand:

• 18th January: Red Dead Redemption (Permanent price reduction in the US and Canada)
• 25th January: The Chronicles of Riddick Assault on Dark Athena
• 1st February: Dark Void

Xbox Live Deal of the Week:

• Week of 24th January: Dance Central - four song add-ons (160 Microsoft Points for each song - 33 per cent off): Janet Jackson "Control"; Sean Paul "Temperature"; Ne-Yo "Because of You"; Cameo "Word Up"
• Week of 31st January: Hydro Thunder Hurricane: 800 Microsoft Points (Save 33 per cent); Aqua, 400 Microsoft Points (Save 50 per cent); Hydrophobia, 400 Microsoft Points (Save 50 per cent)

Xbox Live Avatar Marketplace:

• 20th January: Cool Moves collection (Kung Fu moves, flipping, jumping, and more!)
• 20th January: Dead Space 2
• 27th January: Military collection
• 1st February: Call of Duty: Black Ops
• 3rd February: World Sports