Electronic Arts has confirmed (though they mysteriously broke their own embargo) that the company is bringing the classic Wing Commander franchise to the popular Xbox Live Arcade service as Wing Commander Arena The game, which will launch this summer, will supposrt 16 players, making it the largest multiplayer XBLA combat game to date.

According to EA, Wing Commander Arena is a “fast-paced space combat game where players can team up to attack other teams of ships.” Sounds pretty much how I’d expect a Wing Commander game to pan out, though I’ll miss Malcom McDowell and Mark Hamill. EA adds that players will compete online for frag count, high score and dueling stats.

Being developed by both EA and Gaia Industries, Wing Commander Arena will feature four styles of play: single player, multi-team, multiplayer free for all, and multiplayer duel. The game will also sport eight maps that include team maps, free for all maps, and dueling maps, allowing for either quick matches or long drawn out galactic struggles.

“We’re really excited to deliver unparalleled multi-player arcade action,” said Chip Lange, EA vice president. “The design for Wing Commander will appeal to both long-time fans of the franchise and immediately engage anyone who wants the melee style action of an arcade shooter.”

Microsoft has announced that it plans to add to its line of discounted ‘Platinum Hits’ games for the Xbox 360, which was extended to the next-gen console in both Europe and the U.S. last fall.

Adding to already cheapened titles Perfect Dark Zero, Project Gotham Racing 3, Kameo: Elements of Power, and Need for Speed Most Wanted, each of which carries an MSRP of $29.99, March 16 will see the discounted release of Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, Burnout Revenge, Fight Night Round 3, Call of Duty 2, Dead or Alive 4, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, Top Spin 2, and Table Tennis.

Europeans will also be able to pick up some newly discounted games next month for 29.99 euros ($38.35), including Call of Duty 2, Dead or Alive 4, Project Gotham Racing 3, Table Tennis, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, and Tomb Raider: Legend.

Microsoft has also extended the program to other global regions as well, with Japan getting Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, Burnout Revenge, Perfect Dark Zero, and Chrome Hounds, each for 2,800 yen ($23) in March. The Asia Pacific region, on the other hand, will be getting Dead or Alive 4, N3: Ninety-Nine Nights,Project Gotham Racing 3, and Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter in March, with different areas getting slightly different prices.

For those of you with a PlayStation 3 who are pining for something new to download, Sony and Namco Bandai today released a free downloadable demo for Ridge Racer 7 over the console’s PlayStation Network. The demo includes a 3-lap arcade mode where players will have eight cars to choose from and a chance to race against 13 other AI cars.

While it’s true that many of us here are eagerly anticipating EA and Pandemic’s upcoming Mercenaries 2: World in Flames for the PS3, both companies today confirmed that the game is in development for other platforms as well, including the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and PC. Even better yet, all of these versions will ship concurrently this holiday season.

“Mercenaries 2: World in Flames delivers the next evolution in explosive open world gameplay – regardless of the system you play it on,” said Pandemic Studios CEO Andrew Goldman. “All four platforms are incredible gaming machines, and from the beginning we designed an experience that accentuates their individual strengths and delivers the interactive freedom and explosive action Mercenaries fans demand.”