Virgin, Microsoft bring competitive gaming app to Xbox Live

Newsbrief: Virgin Gaming and Microsoft will launch a new service later this year that allows Xbox Live Gold subscribers to participate in competitive online gaming events. Powered by Virgin Gaming's platform for competitive gaming, the Xbox Live Tournaments app will allow users to participate in tournaments and head-to-head matches, both free-to-play and paid-entry, for select titles. They can also complete skill-based events and challenges. Launched in 2010, the Virgin Gaming platform has picked up over 1.3 million registered users. Those users can competitively play games from partner publishers like EA Sports, 2K Sports, and Ubisoft, and win cash prizes in tournaments and matches.