The Windows Ultimate Extras Team today a short notice on the Windows Vista Ultimate site updating the community on the status of Ultimate Extras. When Microsoft launched Windows Vista in January 2007, it identified Windows Ultimate Extras as a unique series of add-ons that would be available to Windows Vista Ultimate customers. To date, Microsoft have released four sets of Extras – Windows Hold’Em, 16 Language Packs for the Windows multi-language user interface, Secure Online Key Backup, and Windows BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool.

The team recognizes that they've been dark for some time on the topic of Ultimate Extras, but want to go on record that they plan to deliver pending DreamScene and Language Pack Extras by summer's end, and expect to disclose a schedule of further Extras releases after that milestone.

"We will not ship the last two Extras showcased in January (Windows DreamScene and the remaining 20 Language Packs) until they meet the high quality bar required by our enthusiastic customers—and we believe that we can achieve that bar by the end of this summer," said Barry Goffe Director, Windows Vista Ultimate at Microsoft in its blog.

"We are actively working to deliver the remaining Extras that we identified in January. We apologize for taking so long to provide a status update to customers," he added.

In addition to Windows DreamScene and the remaining Language Packs, Microsoft plans to ship a collection of additional Windows Ultimate Extras over the next couple years.