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Xbox 360 Dashboard Update Due August 11

Tom Ivan's picture

By Tom Ivan

July 21, 2009

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Microsoft will launch the first of its Xbox 360 fall updates on August 11.

Perhaps its biggest new feature will be the Games On Demand service first announced at E3. It will debut with a library of more than 30 titles to buy and download, including Mass Effect, BioShock, Assassin’s Creed and Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. The platform holder says new titles will be added every week.

The update will also enable Xbox Live users to watch Netflix movies and TV shows simultaneously from different locations. Additionally, it promises improvements to programme queuing options and video quality.

Meanwhile, the new Xbox Live Avatar Marketplace will let users customise there avatars with “interactive props” and purchase branded apparel from their favourite fashion labels and games.

Microsoft is offering those interested in doing so the chance to preview the upcoming dashboard update.

Further new system features including Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm support, plus instant on 1080p HD streaming video through Zune, will be made available later this fall.

Top_Dollar's picture
On July 28th Top_Dollar said:

Here's hoping MS don't fuck up the update, like they do everything else inc their hardware.

Jack_'s picture
On July 23rd Jack_ said:

"The update will also enable Xbox Live users to watch Netflix movies and TV shows simultaneously from different locations."

Meaning there only needs to be one XBL/Netflix account in the world, and everyone can stream? Awesome.

NickgamertagO1's picture
On July 24th NickgamertagO1 said:

Lol, that would be nice wouldn't it? No, both people have to have a gold account and a netflix account. It's equal to having your buddy come over and watch a movie with you, but now he's not required to be there physically! You'll voice chat while watching the same movie at the same exact time. Sooner or later we'll never physically see our friends.

Jack_'s picture
On July 24th Jack_ said:

Oh. Then I can't think of any feature more useless. Why can't you just press Play at the same time and be on the phone or something? Even that's stupid.

NickgamertagO1's picture
On July 28th NickgamertagO1 said:

Lol I don't know, I guess we hadn't thought of that yet. You're right it is kinda stupid, but at least it's there for those who want it. lmao, for some reason your post is crackin me up. That made my day.

DubsTF's picture
On July 23rd DubsTF said:

Wow, the magic of software. *golf clap*

Wittus's picture
On July 22nd Wittus said:

Here's guessing Denmark will get screwed over once again on the whole moving pictures-on-demand thing. It'll be like PS3 Vidzone all over again ;)

Seriously, having collected games for a long time (and therefore not needing the Games On Demand thing, unless it's truly original download-only games), neither Xbox 360 nor PS3 has had any mentionable upgrades for my taste. Private Chat is the thing that makes the Xbox 360 the online preferenced console here, and no avatars, text chats, premium themes or other virtual crap is going to change that. Sony, copy that feature, and you will be immensely more popular with my crowd ;)

savagehenry's picture
On July 22nd savagehenry said:

I'm dreading this update to be honest. I prefer to keep things simple and it annoys me that more features are going to be added that I don't even want or will use. It would be nice to at least get a choice. The idea of modular systems has been at the core of many Microsoft products over the years, including Windows OS and Office Suite as well as various others. If I'm paying for a service I'd like to be able to stipulate which content I want and which I have no interest in.

I'm at best Anti-Social, I don't go in for all this social networking stuff and believes it a fad and complete waste of bandwidth, it's a vanity service that I find abhorrent. I'm not interested in streaming down the wire and have very little interest in customizing the metro sexual avatar and like you I'm a boxes on the shelf kind of a guy and stuck in my ways. 360 strikes me as turning into a marketing machine first and a console second.

With Microsoft Xbox you've always had a great online service and private chat system that is easy to use and is much more reliable for hosting games. It has built on lessons learnt through MS experience with gaming PC's. But having said that, I believe you get what you pay for!! Whether it's deemed to be plagiarism or not the PS3 needs a private chat system or a party system akin to the 360. Microsoft also needs to reconsider whether it wants to provide a two tear service service (like gold and silver accounts on XBL) as it is clear that a free service isn't coping with demand.

Rob's picture
On July 22nd Rob said:

I've found PSN to be a little better when actually playing a game. What I find unacceptable though is that at times you'll be randomly logged out of PSN and this has happened since launch! Live has much more lag and it really pisses me off when a game implements peer-to-peer after we pay $50 to play online. For that we should have dedicated servers.