Microsoft illuminates new XBL Marketplace

Each week brings Xbox 360 gamers closer to the New Xbox Experience, Microsoft's substantial overhaul of the Xbox Live dashboard and online services. Leading up to that launch, the gamemaker has slowly been peeling back the layers of what can be expected from the update.

Last week, Microsoft's marketing team gave interested gamers a look at the new, animated dashboard themes as well as friends lists. Today, Microsoft's Sara Nicholson returned to tip the publisher's hand on Xbox Live Marketplace's new look, promising more information will be readily accessible than with the current layout. By way of a handful of before-and-after screenshots, Nicholson explained that the XBLM will give gamers a wealth of easy-to-access information.

"When you go into the new Games Store this fall, you will be able to check out screenshots of the game, watch trailers and read the back-of-the-box description like you are shopping at a retail store," said the Microsoft marketing rep. "The Games Store will also display every available download for the game you are looking for."

Returning to the publisher's go-to prototype of Gears of War 2, Nicholson said that Xbox gamers can now readily access all pertinent information relating to the game through the Game Store, including previews, trailers, gamerpics, themes, game add-ons, and images.

The Xbox Live dashboard update is officially slated for a late-fall arrival. Various sources, including an Xbox Live ad appearing on the current dashboard, have pegged the New Xbox Experience for a November rollout.