Xbox Live is an important service for Microsoft and its Xbox 360 home gaming console. Apart from allowing players to get into multiplayer matches and take a sneak peek at game videos and demos, Live has emerged as a powerful social tool, with players checking in with friends and with Mii-inspired Avatars introduced to represent them. And the Redmond-based company is keen on pushing this side of Live via the upcoming summer update.
We have already talked about the
Avatar Marketplace, which is set to charge money for the chance of personalizing the on-screen persona. Microsoft has said that well-known brands like Adidas, Quiksilver, Roxy and Tokidoki will be featured, alongside trends like Steampunk or Recessionista.
Players will also be able to get items based on BioShock 2, Halo 3, Gears of War 2, Fable II, The Secret of Monkey Island, Splinter: Cell Conviction, Star Wars Clone Wars: Republic Heroes. There's also talk of integrating Avatar rewards with videogames on Xbox Live, like Splosion Man.
A rating system for all the content on the Xbox Live Games Marketplace has been introduced in an effort to make it easier for the best stuff to bubble up to the surface and new options for viewing the friends added to Xbox Live. The fresh update is also bringing in the new
Games on Demand service.
The software giant is promising that, in the near future, a host of new features will be added to Xbox Live. Facebook and Twitter are set to be integrated, eliminating the need to use the PC to connect to these social network services, Last.fm should be added to provide players with a constant source of music, personalized to their taste, plus streaming in full HD and with 5.1 audio from the Zune.
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