Xbox Live Avatars overhaul likely coming in November

Ad shows date for New Xbox Experience

The “New Xbox Experience” Xbox Live overhaul is likely to come in November, according to an Xbox Live dashboard ad for Rock Band 2.

The ad urges gamers on Live to “Check out the New Xbox Experience coming in November” with emphasis added to the November date. Previously we had only been given a vague timeline of “fall”, but didn’t have any idea of when exactly the update would come. So it’s nice to have some clarification on that point, although Microsoft has not officially announced a specific date nor commented on the ad.

The New Xbox Experience as it’s being called is an update to the entire dashboard that replaces the “Blades” navigation menu with an all new one that, in some ways, resembles the PlayStation 3’s XMB (Cross Media Bar).

But the biggest update is the addition of Xbox Live Avatars, Mii-like representations of you (that will replace the picture on your GamerCard, if you choose to replace it) that are kind of like a cross between a character from The Sims and a Nintendo Mii. These can be completely customized in their look and clothes and you will even be able to unlock new clothes for your avatar in games.

In addition to the major additions above, the Xbox Live overhaul will add a number of smaller but welcome additions including the ability to install games on the Xbox 360’s hard drive to speed up loading, various new display resolutions and aspect ratios and the integration of Netflix as discussed at Microsoft’s Pre-E3 Press Conference during this year’s E3 2008 show.

Via GameSpot