14 DAY TRIAL // Xbox Live is one of the most popular online services and also one of the most powerful tricks up the Xbox 360's sleeve. Even though it makes gamers pay for multiplayer connectivity, it is still one of the best services around, despite the fact that some of its competition boasts that it has already surpassed it.
Now, just before Comic-Con, Microsoft has announced that the next big Xbox Live update will be arriving on August 11. This new dashboard update will include a lot of highly anticipated features, especially since their announcement at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), like the Games on Demand service. This new system that will offer the possibility of buying and downloading full games will include right from the start titles such as Assassin's Creed, BioShock or Mass Effect.
Games on Demand- -Enjoy 24 x 7 access to a growing online library of popular full game titles on Xbox LIVE whenever you want them, in the comfort of your living room. -Purchase Options – Browse and download a great selection of full Xbox 360 games using Microsoft Points, direct debit, or credit card. -Game Manuals – Game manuals for Games on Demand titles can be viewed, downloaded or printed on Xbox.com. -It's Yours Forever! – As with other Xbox LIVE content, Games on Demand titles are linked to your Xbox LIVE account, so you can delete and re-download anything you have already purchased to the same console or another console.
Also, you won't have to worry about your save games not working with the digital download releases, as Microsoft made it quite clear that if you purchased the retail disc containing a game and then got rid of it, the digital download versions would recognize your save games and pick up straight from where you left off.
Another important update will be the introduction of support for the Netflix party feature, which will allow people to watch movies using the Netflix service. Also, the Avatar marketplace will be launched, offering your small virtual avatars a dedicated area from where they can shop clothes, shoes and even things like the RC Warthog from the Halo franchise.
Overall, the next Xbox Live update is shaping up to be a very big one, but don't forget that in fall we will get to see support for Last.fm, Twitter and Facebook appear in the Microsoft service.