Xbox 360 fall update detailed

Microsoft to begin discount XBLA program for older games, include a news ticker on the dashboard, and more in next week's system firmware release.

Microsoft has been trickling out details about its fall firmware update for the Xbox 360 in recent weeks. The first new feature announced was a family timer that would limit playtime on the console to a set amount of time every day or week. That was followed by the introduction of Xbox Originals, downloadable versions of games from Microsoft's original console that would sell for 1,200 Microsoft points ($15) each. Another feature mentioned would allow gamers to see their friends' friends lists.

Today the publisher spilled a few more details about the fall update, which it will make available beginning December 4 at 2 a.m. Pacific. The biggest new feature revealed is the Xbox Live Arcade Hits program, which will see older games on the downloadable-game service permanently discounted. The first wave of Arcade Hits was also detailed. Bankshot Billiards 2 and Lumines LIVE! will both be marked down to 800 Microsoft points ($10) from 1,200 Microsoft points ($15), whereas Marble Blast Ultra, Zuma Deluxe, and Small Arms will go from 800 Microsoft points ($10) to 400 Microsoft points ($5).

Other new features include the incorporation of a news ticker into the dashboard to provide a steady stream of updates direct from Microsoft. Gamers will also have the chance to share a bit more information about themselves in an expanded bio section of their online user profile. Finally, the update will include a handful of interface tweaks, support for more video codecs, and full-screen movie previews.

568 Comments

  • MiltoxBeyond

    Posted Oct 4, 2008 1:19 pm PT

    LOL. Your far too young for such games

  • Nanatu

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 6:08 pm PT

    Since the update i havent been able to dowload ANY demos. Teen, Mature, Everyone, i cant dowload any of them. My acount is set to child, but appearently i have to wait till im 18(1 more year) to download them. Does anyone think this is messed up.

  • thetealcaptain

    Posted Dec 5, 2007 6:48 pm PT

    wow if u don't know about the red ring of death, I have 1 question for you! What ****** rock u been hiding under for the last 2 years???!?

  • mblsd8

    Posted Dec 5, 2007 9:18 am PT

    if you're so happy about being able to fianlly watch videos on a hard drive your'e fairly new. I already did that with both my PS3 and my 360. I just burn movies and store them on the system themselves without the disc. Cool but nothing new if you know how to work things out.

  • megamega777

    Posted Dec 5, 2007 7:48 am PT

    At E3, Microsoft stated, "The video store that has all the movies and stuff will expand to Canada and Europe some time this year..."
    This update sounded like a good place to put all that but I will ask one question:
    Where the **** are my movies?!?!?!

  • hromana

    Posted Dec 5, 2007 1:07 am PT

    I did the update few hours ago. After the update i received the error message E71. Since then, Xbox does not starts and gets the 3 red lights flashing....I unplugged all the cables, hardrive and nothing. Later I also did try to reset it holding the sync up button.

    I really dont know what to do specially when I cant find the receipt so I could return the Xbox to the store where I bought it, tomorrow it will be exactly 1 year.

    Anyone elese with the same problem??
    BTW: My XBOX IS NOT MODDED!

  • Xenju

    Posted Dec 5, 2007 12:02 am PT

    omg the update is freaking sweet because i can now watch avi video in my 360 instead of the computer!

  • OnlyTbone

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 8:03 pm PT

    awesome awesome awesome!!!

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 2:01 pm PT

    shoot that's today, I was thinking it was 2 days ago it was supposed to come out, dang I'm bad at reading

  • NeeGr81

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 11:15 am PT

    its dumb that you need the gold-membership to download the oringal xbox games.

  • condemned100

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 11:08 am PT

    Anyone knows a Good AVI to Divx Converter to play on the Xbox 360's new Fall Update?

  • miiiguel

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 10:33 am PT

    WWIAB, just put it in your Windows Media Player and stream it.

  • miiiguel

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 10:30 am PT

    games_247, it is related to copyright issues. that's a problem every digital distributor as to deal with, it's not a MS thing.

  • WWIAB

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 8:25 am PT

    you can use a external hard drive? where did you hear that to?

  • PseudoFinrod

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 8:17 am PT

    I am pleased with the update.
    They have greatly reduced the lag that occurs when one presses the middle "Xbox" button.
    I am still fascinated that they can improve the functionality of a console for years after it comes out. I could not have foreseen this back in the 8-bit days.
    What's this I hear about being able to hook up an external hard drive? That would be most excellent-most of my media languishes in storage as of now.

  • ash1966

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 2:50 am PT

    does any1 know when the up-date will be available in the uk ???????

  • 345669

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 12:59 am PT

    I Really Hope they allow you to change your E-mail address in MSN messenger.

  • Chipburkey

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 12:49 am PT

    oh so you can hook up a external hard drive. Do all brands work or is certain MS approved ones?

  • condemned100

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 12:16 am PT

    Finally, I will be able to watch ripped movies in CD-R's Thanks to Divx Support. What about AVI Support from this Fall Update?

  • SpeedMan72

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 12:04 am PT

    nice discounts on the xbla games but they need to make it so you can use msn under the age of 18 or how ever old you have to be!!
    its freakin stupid that you can play with people that you dont even know but cant talk with people that you do!!!

  • alex20077

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 8:30 pm PT

    sweet. Im already enjoying watching ripped dvds from my external harddrive, glad i bought a 360 and not a ps3

  • Dark_Lord777

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 8:04 pm PT

    sweet. can't wait!

  • Hex_Of_A_Nation

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 7:55 pm PT

    uhm, idk bout yall, but im pumped bout it. like esp. the discount and the xbox originals ))

  • HVPinc

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 7:52 pm PT

    OMFG MORE VIDEO CODECS!!!

  • NeeGr81

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 6:17 pm PT

    i just want to know how long its going to take to download the game

  • ptown58

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 5:48 pm PT

    miiiquel, that 3yr warranty is for the specific three red lights syndrome and nothing else. There is a 1yr warranty for most everything else but after that the costumer has to pay for everything and if I didn't buy the extended warranty I would have had to pay for my BROKEN dvd drive to be repaired by M$ who refuses to admit thats a syndrome like the rrod. Some game stores are not selling a extended warranty because so many 360s are having to be replaced that its costing them way to much time and money to deal with it. (wash hands)

  • Killer_Dodds

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 5:43 pm PT

    why do people want an internernet browser on there system whne u got a computer? lol

  • Floms

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 4:22 pm PT

    hohohoho buy yourself a PS3 lol

  • xboxlover09

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 4:00 pm PT

    it dosent sound good it sound teriffic.

  • games_247

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 3:57 pm PT

    One thing i really hate is that i live Barbados, thats in the Caribbean for most of you all people who don't know that, and down here i can't access the video and some game contents, I wish that M$ would update that part make all the content available to the world instead of certain parts, what's the sense i have gamer points and can't buy content that is not available to my region a lot of my friends have xbox 360s and we does really get piss off when this sh*t happens

  • Rayze78

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 3:15 pm PT

    It looks like there is some cool additions. As far as everyone griping about the internet...who cares? I have it on the Wii and PSP and I dont even bother.

    And Bankshot billiards going down to 800 pts... I didnt mind the demo but its not a 1200 pt game. They should just give it away for free now since they raped so many people on the 1200 points... am I right?

  • SemiMaster

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 2:39 pm PT

    So when will they add an internet browser?

  • miiiguel

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 1:05 pm PT

    skirlnik, it's like this:
    Live Silver - you're online, can do everything - chat, download trailers, try demos, buy them if you like; register Achivements etc..
    Live Gold - everything Silver + play online (the only difference).

    My PS3 owners friends keep complaining about the lack of the demo feature of PSN games, and that's a bit silly if you think of it - demos are a must to buy a game online, me thinks.
    And I tell you something, I just have a gold account because I have a decent wage and not many expenses (yet..., gf is bit****g about wanting a brat... oh lord!!!), because I'm not much of a run'n'gun guy meself... . But I gotta give it to them, most of times the online play is flawless.

    ptown58: every 360 has now 3 years warranty. Stores have~ nothing to do with it. MS even pays for the postage. On the Achievements... yeah..., I know what you mean, my girlfriend says I'm a weirdo more often than she should, when she sees me spending a week (or more /blushes in shame//) looking for green glowing orbs... . I do like them though, don't really care much about the Gamerscore, the Achievements, on the other hand, (in fact "Goals") are a very fun (and simple) idea.

  • ptown58

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 12:57 pm PT

    And for the record , one of the main reasons if not the number one reason M$ will not put a browser on the 360/Live is because they want you to buy Vista (another huge failure for the most part).

  • Freestyle_20

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 12:56 pm PT

    crap update and they stole the news ticker of the ps3 lol i own both and both updates have been rubbish this month

  • ptown58

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 12:51 pm PT

    Is it true that some game stores stopped offering an extended warranty with the 360 ? if so why ? maybe M$ should update that.

  • Kingjeux

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 12:18 pm PT

    My Question is, are they going to fix the 360 Messenger problem for people who made their live account before they were 18?? I heard that to be one of the fixes, but it doesn't mention it here. See friends' friends list? I don't care about that.

  • Tisfree

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 12:13 pm PT

    The fact is, you can go on your PS3 or Wii and have no online experience that matters because all your friends own an Xbox 360. There is Metal Gear and thats it for huge, I definitely have to play games for the PS3. Of course there will be other good games, but thats the same for every system. But online wise, I don't know about you guys but achievements and the fact that everyone I know has xbox live pretty much makes it mandatory that Xbox is #1 in this generation of systerms. Most people I know won't even touch the PS3 at the 399 price, because we're just not impressed.

  • skirlnik

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 12:04 pm PT

    Oops, ignorance reins. So you pay for online play and HD downloads, is that the case?

    No free games on the PSN yet, just themes, wallpapers, and... of course, online play.

  • willripyouanew1

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 11:56 am PT

    This is why XBL is better than the SONY network.

  • 2577007

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 11:42 am PT

    I dont think its really a big update

  • ptown58

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 11:27 am PT

    miiiquel dont get me wrong I'm not dissing you I just think its funny that you have that many points and put your zone on recreation, with that many points most people would think thats some pretty serious gaming. I myself actually like the achievement points and get sucked into doing them and my kid thinks I'm a kook for going out of my way to get them.

  • bigpimppapa

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 11:24 am PT

    What needs to be updated is there severs. When we here in the USA play other Country's there is mad lag. Even connection loss, and it is not our Internet connection. But cross country Internet server errors FIX THAT MICROSOFT.

  • miiiguel

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 11:04 am PT

    skirlnik, you don't have to pay for Live to buy the games. Are there any PSN games for free ? (honest question, don't know, really).

  • miiiguel

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 10:59 am PT

    ptown, I do dig the 360, a lot (don't have much of an opinion on MS, my thing is just the 360, really), but believe me, I'm not evil. I'm quite friendly, actually.
    My Achievements are not for competitive pueposes, honestly, I just like to do them. They keep me entertained, and as in this corner of the world I don't have the renting option (I had to buy all those games...) itt actualy improves the value-4-money (well, at least it makes me think that way, which is failry good... I guess), so the "recreation" zone do make sense. I do it for the fun.
    I'm really sorry for your problems with the machine. I didn't had any, and I own my box since debut day in Europe (2nd December/2005) - then I bought another (Elite), but just because I'm silly.

  • skirlnik

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 10:56 am PT

    Whoa, games cost more thatn $10 on Xbox Live? Aren't you already paying for the service? People complain about $8-10 games on the PSN, but geez people. Wake up.

  • ptown58

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 10:49 am PT

    Writing M$ is easier and to the truth so dont forget it. I did have to laugh Miiiquel, you have 47k in points and your "zone" is recreation. Maybe I should use a peace symbol when referring to M$ ? I know I should shut up but I'm on my 4th 360 and I dont see MS doing much to fix anything except "hey we can make your kid stop playing video games other than selling you a faulty product. But ya the update is soooo great I love you MicroSoft please remember me.

  • miiiguel

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 10:40 am PT

    Families have their own particular environment, and I remeber I did my share of naughty stuff when I was a teen - I'd play my MegaDrive if my parents didn't locked it in their room, even if they say I shouldn't, for whatevet reason. Don't judge..., we're all happy, I have a decent job and a happy life - but I did misbehave. So it might be usefull.

  • ptown58

    Posted Dec 3, 2007 10:30 am PT

    "if you dont like the parent control dont use it" Geeze thanks for you help I never thought of that. Its a waste of time and money which M$ is more than welcome to do so but it does show that M$ is more into pretending to make things better than actually doing so and I could write a huge list of facts stating this....dont get me wrong $ony is no better so dont think I'm putting one company before the other.

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