Microsoft may be planning to revive Windows Ultimate Extras in Windows 8, WinRumors has learned.

The software giant is currently compiling early Milestone copies of Windows 8 and is offering a range of Windows Ultimate Extras via Windows Update. Microsoft Tinker, Ultimate Extra Sounds from Microsoft Tinker and Windows Sound Schemes are all available via Windows 8′s Windows Update. Microsoft killed off Ultimate Extras in Windows 7 after initially offering free Extras to Windows Vista Ultimate users.

Microsoft’s failed Vista Ultimate Extras were a big promise from the company of “cutting-edge programs, innovative services and unique publications.” At least they were in Vista RTM, by the time Vista SP1 was rolled out nearly all references to Vista Ultimate Extras were removed. Blogger Long Zheng called them the “ultimate con” at the time and in hindsight he was right. Microsoft made several promises of more extras which resulted in the company launching UltimatePC.com which now redirects to the Vista home-page.

Hold’Em, a Poker card game, was an original Ultimate Extra released at the same time as Vista general availability. Tinker, a 60-level robot puzzle video game, was originally released in September, 2008. Microsoft confirmed that Windows 7 Ultimate would not feature the Extras applications, claiming “our new approach to planning and building Windows doesn’t have the capacity to continue to deliver features outside the regular release cycle…as a result we don’t plan to create Ultimate Extras.”

However, the company did release Microsoft Tinker and Hold ‘Em as separate downloads for Windows 7 users. It’s not yet clear whether the company will introduce any additional Ultimate Extras for Windows 8 users or just simply make the previous Vista versions available via Windows Update. Microsoft is currently working on various Windows 8 features and is expected to deliver an early copy to developers at its Windows Developer Conference (WDC) in September. Here’s a round-up of the latest Windows 8 news:

• Windows 8: Android-like pattern logon screen demo [video]
• Windows 8: Immersive Tablet tile UI and PDF reader revealed
• Windows 8 Metro UI welcome screen and Ribbon screenshots leak
• Portable Workspace allows you to run Windows from a USB device
• Microsoft switches to Black Screen Of Death (BSoD) for Windows 8
• Windows 8: History Vault user interface revealed
• Windows 8: Black Screen of Death (BSoD) captured on video
• Windows 8: User account roaming settings over Windows Live Cloud revealed

Thanks to WinRumors reader Jonathan for the news tip

Update: As some commenters have pointed out, the Extras may be offered to some users who have hacked their Windows 8 copies to act like Vista.