Microsoft has just announced that the upcoming
Xbox Dashboard update will be hitting Xbox Live on August 11. The update is set to include many new features, including Games on Demand, improved Netflix performance (along with Movie Parties), Avatar Awardables, Avatar Marketplace, the ability to rate games, new Friends list sorting options and more. The announcement also mentions that previously announced Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm support is slated to arrive this fall.
Also, don't forget that Microsoft is currently
accepting entrants for an upcoming preview, allowing many gamers a chance to check out the update before it's available to the general public. If you don't make it, rest assured that Joystiq will be taking the update for a spin and will be posting plenty of coverage.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rhamsey @ Jul 21st 2009 2:14PM
That seems like forever, I really hope i get chosen early.
Chewie @ Jul 21st 2009 6:24PM
Xbox Live Update - Now with more adverts...
Yay...
Stew @ Jul 21st 2009 6:32PM
Facebook feature delayed due to anti-trust lawsuit. Part of Microsoft's deal with CBS/Last.FM mean they had to knobble PS3 support, which is illegal in US and Europe under existing anti-trust laws.
Don't expect to see Last.FM anytime soon. Hulu also being investigated for similar dealings of intentionally breaking existing services in anti-competitive measures.
Oh Dear....
Brian Howard @ Jul 21st 2009 2:14PM
sweet!
N3M3515 @ Jul 21st 2009 2:18PM
Should I be excited for this?
Rhamsey @ Jul 21st 2009 2:38PM
yes
Swagman @ Jul 21st 2009 3:56PM
yes
WhatIsThatThing @ Jul 21st 2009 4:06PM
no
MystileArmor @ Jul 21st 2009 2:18PM
Let's just hope the dashboard is as quick as Major Nelson said. Too bad there isn't any Last.fm going to be in it yet, though. That's probably the feature I'm looking forward too the most. Especially if you can use it in-game.
Swagman @ Jul 21st 2009 3:47PM
I'd much rather have Pandora than Last.fm. But I guess Last.fm is okay . . . if they allow you to use the stream as in-game, custom soundtrack.
Neuromancer @ Jul 21st 2009 2:20PM
I don't know why I get so excited about dashboard updates, but I do.
Mazrael @ Jul 21st 2009 3:55PM
They're the only reason turn my Wii on...
I thought MS were gonna do more frequent updates? gutted that the facebook feature is being held back.. dunno why... :S
Neuromancer @ Jul 21st 2009 4:11PM
JUNG, I have like 3... They change constantly, I have no idea why
protofunc @ Jul 21st 2009 2:20PM
Will the rating system only be available to people who purchased the game?
I'd rather have it this way than for a million people to rate a game they've never even played - that would suck for the developer.
GordoJones @ Jul 21st 2009 3:33PM
Yes, only 'Full Game Purchased' users can rate a game.
tmacairjordan87 (aka Mr. Negativity) @ Jul 21st 2009 2:22PM
Just pawned off some old jewelry I haven't worn in years so I got like $200 in points ready for Games on Demand (not to mention the last fallout DLC and Shadow Complex). Can't wait :D
MystileArmor @ Jul 21st 2009 2:28PM
Mr. T..mac?
I PITY THE FOOL WHO DON'T HAVE NO MS POINTS!
Markez @ Jul 21st 2009 2:31PM
Yeah that's definitely one of the oddest things I've heard you say.
tmacairjordan87 (aka Mr. Negativity) @ Jul 21st 2009 2:41PM
Yeah it was actually the first time I've ever even been inside a pawn shop, but I walked out of there with a hell of a lot more than I thought I would. When I'm short on money I come up with ways to get what I'm looking for ;)
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jul 21st 2009 2:42PM
wow....are you OK dude??
tmacairjordan87 (aka Mr. Negativity) @ Jul 21st 2009 2:45PM
I'm fine, the idea just hit me the other day. What good is jewelry if you're not gonna wear it? So I made some extra money that I wanted for games on demand (only had like 2000 points).
MystileArmor @ Jul 21st 2009 2:48PM
I always want to go check out pawn shops although I never have. I've heard stories of people finding really vintage music equipment there for cheap.
Although, something about pawn shops just screams "Come in and get shot, stabbed or possibly robbed".
Markez @ Jul 21st 2009 2:50PM
They're not bad, at least the last few I went to before moving out of MN. They paid me shockingly well for some old music gear, and even a crappy Dae Woo SD tv.
PedoJokerBear (aka Deeznuts) @ Jul 21st 2009 2:50PM
http://www.tmacrelieffund.org
:(
tmacairjordan87 (aka Mr. Negativity) @ Jul 21st 2009 2:54PM
I was kind of nervous going into it too, thinking like it would be some run down place with a clerk with 1 eye and torn clothes or something but it was a pretty nice place.
I live in rural Florida, so the only way you'd get shot there is probably if you stole something...and the clerk, while nice, definitely had the "I'll blow your head off with this shotgun behind me if you steal" look about him.
MystileArmor @ Jul 21st 2009 2:56PM
If the trend continues with this thread right here and the guy on the Saboteur topic that won't play the game cause it has nudity in it, it's going to be a good day for a drink and Joystiq opened on my browser all day.
GordoJones @ Jul 21st 2009 3:33PM
Target has 'Buy $20 1600 MS point card get $5 Target Giftcard' this week. So 25% off MS points FTW.
Svenzoid @ Aug 9th 2009 6:44PM
Dude , i have 2100 MSP now , that aint enough so i wanted more , went to the shop just to find out every shop was sold out of MSP's haha xD
Cj @ Jul 21st 2009 2:22PM
Sweet. Earlier than I expected. Hopefully I get into the preview and get it next week.
Jrinswand @ Jul 21st 2009 2:23PM
[shamelesswhoringofbirthday]Hey! That's my birthday! Kind of a shitty birthday present though. I haven't played my Xbox 360 in at least a year.[/shamelesswhoringofbirthday]
LustSIN @ Jul 21st 2009 2:25PM
Awesome, can't wait :D
Smoke_me_a_Kipper @ Jul 21st 2009 2:24PM
I will be interesting to see how many of these features will be available to us poor Canadians.
Gamer4Life @ Jul 21st 2009 3:05PM
MS treats Canada just as well as the states unlike sony.
Smoke_me_a_Kipper @ Jul 21st 2009 3:19PM
No Netflix in Canada. I'm not blaming MS about this, it's just the way it is.
Swagman @ Jul 21st 2009 3:55PM
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!
oxymoronx420 @ Jul 21st 2009 8:37PM
Well, they saw fit to make those silverlight video ads appear...
The ones that major nelson claimed would enhance the experience.
Instead we get the damn telus ads that are all over the tv with the meerkat and almost indecipherable 'singing'
It was real nice that they saw fit to take such good care of us with that enhancement to the dash. Video ads that play music don't add to the experience.
Maybe if they were about games, but phone companies ads shouldn't have a place on my dashboard if I'm paying for XBL.
Fuck ms, let em keep their damn netflix.
Smoke_me_a_Kipper @ Jul 21st 2009 9:13PM
Don't let me see those Meerkats again. 1vs100 is almost waterboarding us with them.
BloodShot Robot @ Jul 21st 2009 2:25PM
Did they mention anything about the sickening slow guide fix?
Cj @ Jul 21st 2009 2:28PM
In a press letter form I forget his name they confirmed they are gonna fix the guide. He spoke of of how he knows the community has roared and clambered enough for it to be know as an issue.
Just watch this video if you dont believe the Guide Lag is TERRIBLE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu-xdFYxgOI
joeybeast @ Jul 21st 2009 2:28PM
I'm excited for quicker account recovery.
Always forget to take my memory unit.
Johnny Neat @ Jul 21st 2009 2:39PM
Was that even mentioned?
Vcize @ Jul 21st 2009 2:48PM
Yes.
Lilpunkduck @ Jul 21st 2009 2:52PM
yes it was, and I too want this. I blatantly refuse to lug my HDD to a friends and I wont shell out for a rip-off priced memory card. My account seems to take ages due to chievements and licences tied to it
joeybeast @ Jul 21st 2009 3:03PM
I was so sick and tired of recovering my account when I go to my buddy's house, ZI ended up buying an used 64 MB memory unit for $20 at Gamestop.
But once a while I still forget.
My profile is less than 10 MB, there is no reason why it should take more than a minute.
E C S Sucks @ Jul 21st 2009 2:29PM
Cool
Day before my birthday.
Akuma FTW @ Jul 21st 2009 2:31PM
Castle Crashers gets 8 stars
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jul 21st 2009 2:32PM
nice update....I suppose most people are waiting for the Fall update tho...I wonder why they dont just release them all at the same time?
craig @ Jul 21st 2009 3:52PM
Well it's not exactly like the fixes are invisible. Adding movie party, remedying some of the laggy dash, adding avatar enhancements/marketplace, ratings for games, sorting options for the friendlist is more substantial than the last 5 PS3 updates combined.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jul 21st 2009 2:59PM
did you REALLY have to bring the PS3 up tho? I mean seriously....the 360 has had a few behind the scenes type updates as well....
Duke @ Jul 21st 2009 5:13PM
I think they do them in multiple updates so people feel MS is always updating and not ignoring the consoles.