Among other things, next week’s Dashboard update for the Xbox 360 is bringing the ability to purchase and download full games directly to your 360′s hard drive. Microsoft hasn’t announced specific pricing yet, but they HAVE announced the first batch of games to be available. Microsoft has said that pricing will be similar to current retail prices, so if the game you want is $30 at Best Buy, it’s likely that it will cost the same to download. New games will also be added to the service every Tuesday. Based on the lists below, I think we can expect that the program will stick with older games unless there’s a special promotion of some kind.

US List:

1. Assassin’s Creed (Ubisoft)
2. BioShock (2K Games)
3. Burnout Paradise (EA)
4. Call of Duty 2 (Activision)
5. Dance Dance Revolution Universe (Konami)
6. Fight Night Round 3 (EA)
7. Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft Game Studios)
8. Karaoke Revolution American Idol Encore (Konami)
9. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga (LucasArts)
10. Mass Effect (Microsoft Game Studios)
11. Meet The Robinsons (Disney)
12. MX vs. ATV Untamed (THQ)
13. Need for Speed Carbon (EA)
14. Need for Speed: Most Wanted (EA)
15. Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft Game Studios)
16. Prey (2K Games)
17. Rainbow Six Vegas (Ubisoft)
18. ridge racer 6 (Namco)
19. Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis (Rockstar Games)
20. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG (SEGA)
21. TEST DRIVE: UNLIMITED (Atari)
22. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2K Games/Bethesda Softworks)
23. Viva Pinata (Microsoft Game Studios)
24. Viva Pinata 2: Trouble in Paradise (Microsoft Game Studios)

European List

1. Assassin’s Creed (Ubisoft)
2. Burnout Paradise (EA)
3. Call of Duty 2 (Activision)
4. Fight Night Round 3 (EA)
5. Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft Game Studios)
6. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga (LucasArts)
7. Mass Effect (Microsoft Game Studios)
8. Meet The Robinsons (Disney)
9. MX vs. ATV Untamed (THQ)
10. Need for Speed Carbon (EA)
11. Need for Speed: Most Wanted (EA)
12. Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft Game Studios)
13. Prey (2K Games)
14. Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis (Rockstar Games)
15. Sega Rally (Sega)
16. TEST DRIVE: UNLIMITED (Atari)
17. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
18. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas
19. Tomb Raider Legend (Eidos)
20. Viva Pinata (Microsoft Game Studios)
21. Viva Pinata 2: Trouble in Paradise (Microsoft Game Studios)