Advertisement Points To Xbox Live Overhaul In November

An advertisement for MTV Games's Rock Band 2 indicates that Xbox Live's upcoming major update, termed the "New Xbox Experience," will launch this November. The ad, which appeared on Xbox Live's dashboard and posted online by consumer video game website GameSpot, straightforwardly invites users to "Check out the New Xbox Experience coming in November." Unveiled at Microsoft's E3 press conference, the New Xbox Experience will include a redesigned dashboard, Mii-like 3D avatars, 'Live Parties' allowing 8-player chat groups, Xbox Live Primetime (a title in which users can "star in their own game shows"), and other community features. Xbox Live programming director Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb recently revealed that Microsoft will take its Xbox Live service offline for up to 24 hours on September 29 in preparation for the upcoming major update. Hryb emphasized, however, that users should not expect the New Xbox Experience update and its features to be available immediately following the service's return, as the revamp is scheduled for "later this fall."