Microsoft announces Avatar Marketplace, unlockable apparel

During Microsoft E3 2009 Blogger / Enthusiast Luncheon -- you know, this one -- Xbox Live General Manager Marc Whitten announced the Avatar Marketplace for the Xbox 360. The Avatar Marketplace, unsurprisingly, will allow 360 owners to download new apparel for their Avatars. Players will be able to browse game specific storefronts. Yes, storefronts, so don't expect all the apparel to be free.

In addition, Whitten also announced Avatar Awardables. Awardables, as their name implies, are articles of clothing that can be awarded by Xbox 360 games for completing certain tasks. "I think you're going to see a ton of new content that comes from that," said Whitten. The apparel won't be limited to things like shirts and shoes either, as the ODST Avatar above illustrates, it's conceivable we could see little Alan Wakes and Raidens running all over Xbox Live soon.

Whitten didn't announce any release date for Awardables or the Avatar Marketplace, but given the ODST apparel, we'd say Fall 2009 is a good bet.

Reader Comments (60)

Finally! I was waiting for unlockable clothes n' stuff.

So unique avatar stuff for unlocking achievements?

This is how it should have been from the get-go. Good news.

FUCK i traded my xbox360 for a PS3:(

I hope this applies to old games! My avatar dressed up like Altair, aww yeah!!

...or like Jack Black in King Kong, ewww.

Funny how everyone was criticizing nintendo and the childish 'mii' .. and how when it's on the xbox.. "I LOVE IT.. YES"

fanboys till the end I see.

Snakku, I suggest you go back and read the comments to the announcement where MS introduced avatars.

Then get a freaking clue.

I completely agree sir, but it's still worth the wait.

just like they do in HOME

original there was a rumor pertaining to this subject, but i guess they were still working out the kinks, originally i had heard that cog armor would be awarded to anyone that beat the game on insane (gears of war 2, sorry, i didn't specify), and now, what do we get, cog armor, and locust armor (yeah they are a little skimpy but its still cool) don't know how you will obtain this armor either... i really hope that the items that are unlocked aren't able for purchase for those lamers

The all still stand like effeminate sissy boys. Just let me buy an avatar whos packin some meat and you got my money.

Uh...meat?

Grrr...Man meat, Black Gold, Texas Tea.

You want an avatar that's all oiled up?

What part of giant schlong aren't you getting here! I want my avatar to stand like hes got something more than pixels , and a vagina, between his legs.

so...meat and oil? shag youre such a perv

and thats why we love you.

Shag, Microsoft has listened to your complaints and added new achievement/avatar updates.

For example, finishing Gears 2 on insane will give your avatar will have huge balls.
Also, I heard that if you take 10 photos in DOA: Xtreme 2 your avatar will show his excitement.

When I first read your comment I thought you sounded like a bit of a bull-necked homophobe, but you also seem to be aching for some oiled-up man-gristle.

You're sending some very mixed messages here. O.o

@ Shagittarius:

Kidsy avatars were only lame when Nintendo was doing them (Miis). Now that Microsoft is shamelessly copying Nintendo's best moves, kidsy avatars are TEH HAWTNESS!

It's how Microsoft fanboys think.

Shag may not say it but I will... IDIOTS!

I agree, I'm sick and tired of Japanese fem-bots being deployed as men. I want a god damn Clint Eastwood avatar... not some damn kid from the movie Twilight. Seriously.

hey i'm no Xbox fanboy and i feel like Avatars are better than Miis. i mean what can you really do with your Mii after you make it? i gotta applaud MS for making Avatars act like actual avatars and not something i'm going to get bored with eventually. and now with being able to unlock clothes from achievements, you can really show off your in game accomplishments. Playstation Home does this too and it's a really good idea to keep people interested.

Well, the inevitable finally happened, hopefully the prices wont be too bad.

EA get us some NFL jerseys for our avatars!

And FIFA jerseys for our avatars!

NBA and MLS jerseys as well.

Winning new outfits for your avatar by playing games, awesome.
Paying money to dress up a made up online version of yourself, lame.

Do you wear a uniform or a suit to work? Sounds like DRESS UP to me.

If you ask me, they need to release a "slut" costume pack... avatars aren't sexy enough.

@ Deezul

you're comparing work to games ? .wow ....what can I say ....oh wait I got it .. "DUMBASS"

man-meat, black gold, texas tea.

Yeah. You said that.

YAY. this is a +++ to being a hardcore cheevo whore!

This is good news! Finally some more silly, but fun, reason to care about achievements.

Not to interested in actually buying clothing, but it's great to see unlockables finally being implemented. I want a Banjo backpack.

Finally...

Home has had this for a little bit now, so I'm glad to hear they are implementing the same with the avatars.

Do you get free clothes for your avatars when you complete tasks in home or a game?

in some, yes.

Singstar has items like this. the mini games in HOME give you rewards. there are some other games, but i cant remember them off hand that do this.

So both of those work just like Home then? Awesome.

Exclusive FF13 unlockables such as gravity defying hair styles? How about a free The Burger King head? or LD2 having an Unlockable Zombie costume?

So many possibilities my avatar would jizz his pants if he could.

Burger King head?
Why not just unlock the King himself?

It's good to be the King.

I don't really care about my avatar and I sure as heck won't be paying for clothes, but having special items attached to achievements is a great idea.

Gimme Frank West!

your avatar has not covered wars though

Fuck ya, I can't wait for my avatar to look like an ODST

Street Fighter Avatars, ahoy! That ODST one looks unreal! Cool stuff!

Son of a bitch I want a Batman avatar!

heh, i like the avatar in a t shirt standing in front of a dilapidated Jacinto

Man, I've been waiting for some Fenix gear since the begining. This bodes well. Finally a reason to like my avatar.

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

Microsoft announces Avatar Marketplace, unlockable apparel

Reader Comments (60)

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:04PM Bacon Deity said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:04PM Vcize said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 7:01PM The MARIO said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 7:10PM latin trident said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 7:13PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 7:25PM Vcize said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2009 12:11AM apocacrux said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2009 4:11AM T Crespo said

Posted: Jul 28th 2009 11:56PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:04PM Shagittarius said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:06PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:08PM Shagittarius said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:13PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:17PM Shagittarius said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:17PM PedoJokerBear said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:18PM PedoJokerBear said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:29PM Uncle Jesse said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:32PM Ozzpot said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 7:14PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 7:32PM D dogg said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 7:55PM SoCoolCurt said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:05PM finnith said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:08PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:23PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2009 12:03AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:08PM Rhamsey said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:45PM Deezul AwT said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 7:09PM SirUrza said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 7:15PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:08PM Shagittarius said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:22PM yipcanjo said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:09PM The Kong said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:11PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:11PM Snowblind said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:15PM ch3burashka said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:20PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:30PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:44PM Sly C said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2009 4:05AM T Crespo said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:20PM JoshHood said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:28PM KFelon said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:32PM Uncle Jesse said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:31PM Uncle Jesse said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:47PM Timerider said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 7:02PM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:51PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 6:57PM Baron Milton Von Crompton said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 7:01PM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 7:03PM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: Jun 1st 2009 7:10PM (Unverified) said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

Double Fine Kickstarter passes $1 million in under 24 hours, breaking yet another record

Featured Stories

Shank 2 review: Refined brutality

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier brings information warfare to the front

Rhythm Heaven Fever review: Crazy into you

The most popular postsin the last 7 days

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days