Report: 360 Avatar Store goes online next spring

Microsoft product manager says Xbox Live dashboard overhaul will see new shop for clothing, accessories animations next year.

On November 19, Microsoft will at long last roll out its highly promoted new look for the Xbox Live dashboard, what it calls the New Xbox Experience. Counted among the new features are an avatar-based community system, Netflix integration for online movie-watching, and the ability to install games to the system's external storage device for faster loading times.

Microsoft is also promising a handful of features in the coming months that didn't make into the Xbox Live overhaul's November release, such as video-sharing and the community game show channel Xbox Live Primetime. Speaking to UK gaming site VideoGamer this week, Microsoft revealed one more feature in the offing is an Avatar Store, which it expects to release next spring.

The Avatar Store promises to make good on Microsoft's claim of a "limitless" number of new items that Xbox 360 gamers can use to deck out their digital personas.

"The plan of record will be to launch a more extensive Avatar Store from spring time onwards next year, and that store in theory would have branded content in there, game publisher IP stuff in there as well," said Robin Burrowes, Xbox Live product manager for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. "There's a whole creative canvas for these things. Due to tight time lines there's nothing at launch as such, but our vision for these in the future is well and truly tied to game releases and us working with publishers very closely to encourage rewards from those games to be tied to your Avatar."

Burrowes went on to explain to VideoGamer that players will also be able to pick up "more animations, more customise capabilities in terms of emotions and features but then also as well wardrobe enhancements over the course of time, so fashion brands hopefully launching new ranges through Avatars being one route."

The Europe-centric Microsoft representative noted that a pricing model had not yet been established for the Avatar Store. Microsoft's North American arm had not commented on this report as of press time.

199 Comments

  • drummerboi43

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 5:26 pm PT

    nice microsoft look out for the consumer...charge us for fake clothes for our fake person....

  • LordGeorgeton

    Posted Nov 12, 2008 4:23 pm PT

    dantes inferno chill out. GEEZ.

  • P0T

    Posted Nov 7, 2008 12:30 pm PT

    ps3 charges for stuff too! There is OBVIOUSLY a market for this stuff, just because you don't want it, doesn't mean other people do not.

  • P0T

    Posted Nov 7, 2008 12:29 pm PT

    If you don't wanna buy the crap, don't buy it! But don't rant about it! I am sure more casual people will love this Avatar store.

  • XD4NTESINF3RNOX

    Posted Nov 5, 2008 4:45 pm PT

    I HATE MICROSOFT THEY ARE DOUCHEBAGS and ive already had 3 360's since 2005 and ive had two original xbox's and there customer service reps suck and can any1 understand them i mean wtf microsoft get ur sh%% together......if this xbox gets the rrod im done with microsoft FOR GOOD!

  • chimairawr

    Posted Nov 3, 2008 9:02 am PT

    It's mildly annoying but christ, if you don't want to pay for any of this stuff then just ignore it. I doubt it being there will really affect you in any way.

  • megatomm_

    Posted Nov 3, 2008 8:45 am PT

    ughh **** off microsoft, im so glad i saw sence and bought a ps3, its nice not to be charged for EVERYTHING

  • dr_taffin

    Posted Nov 2, 2008 6:21 am PT

    MICROTRANSACTIONS!!

    I never paid for a single theme or gamerpic and I most definitely won't pay a dime for this. XBLA games and Rockband DLC get my support, but this sort of nickel and diming is absolutely shameful, even for Microsoft.

  • FrostyMD

    Posted Nov 1, 2008 5:41 pm PT

    @world69star69:

    Spot on, my friend. However, how long do you think you'll be able to use Home before the 'premium' content areas become larger than the regular free zones.

  • world69star69

    Posted Nov 1, 2008 10:10 am PT

    More nickel and diming from a company that nikels and dimes you for anything. MS will never give out anything for free, unlike their competition. Sony gives gamers features with the system. Everyone has the features, not just the people who pay more moeny. MS is greedy! they even said that no xna games can be put on live for free even if the indie developer wants to do so, so people play their games. Why would ms do this? So they are guaranteed that licensing royalties. Why not let them put home made games up for free if the dev so chooses? Its messed up especially considering they charge them to even put a user game on the 360 in the first place.


    On the flip side, home is free. You get a slew of avatar options and customization for free. Their is a mall for specialized gear(its a virtual mall in home) but none of it is necessary to use home, as they give you more than enough.(I know, i am in the beta) Hey sony gives a few premium themes, but you know what they also gave out the theme creator software so you can create your own, their are 100's of themes out there you can download for free. MS will charge for everything and not give you any creative tools.

  • razgriz_101

    Posted Nov 1, 2008 12:56 am PT

    tbh its a cash grab imo you pay for gold to play online yes DLC is diffrent but if your paying for gold imo you should get things for your avatar for free....

    Just shows pure greed.And i feel sorry for the chumps who will pay money that could be spent on good DLC just to make their avatar look "cool"

  • rockutd

    Posted Nov 1, 2008 12:44 am PT

    Wow thats kinda lame.Im not gonna fall for that.

  • Beastcake

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 7:10 pm PT

    So... what's free?

  • IIEquiinoXII

    Posted Oct 31, 2008 6:27 am PT

    were paying for new clothes for a stupid avatar!? seriously.... your not trying to establish a new market of gamers at all, ur just trying to steal MORE money off us for pointless things. sort it out please!! all i wanna do is play amazing games, not look at a cartoon figure of me when i can look at a mirror of my real self.

  • BigSmitts07

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 2:22 pm PT

    who cares..Ill never pay to update my avatar...i dont even pay attention to half of the crap on the menus now...i havent changed my gamer pic since i got my console back in early 06

  • blackace

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 1:24 pm PT

    Don't really care about the avatars that much. As long as they have some basic modification options, I'll be happy. I'm more worried about the layout and being able to find everything I want to without being confused. I'm not paying extra money to shop for an avatar. They should have made all that crap FREE. If XBox Live was free, then maybe I could see them charging pennies for this stuff.

  • asimplerapper

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 10:44 am PT

    shop = pay thus we have to pay for the new clothes,etc

  • darkride66

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 10:25 am PT

    I hope if you don't buy new clothes you just have a burlap sack and hobo bag. That'd amuse the hell out of me.

  • Amazingsambo

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 6:26 am PT

    nah, i already have a mii. if given the option, i would just turn this avatar off. hell i'm only gonna use home to meet people and launch into games, not play dress up with my virtual character.

  • ZabuzaR

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 5:58 am PT

    Screw the avatars. I want faster loading times on my games!

  • Kezman118

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 4:45 am PT

    i like everything about the NXE except the avatars, so this won't really bother me that much

  • Generalmojo

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 2:47 am PT

    copying the wii

  • flyingteddy

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 2:27 am PT

    should be free!

  • Shtinky

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 2:24 am PT

    sucks... still no web browser

  • king_bobo

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 12:14 am PT

    This is just another way for Microsoft to rip you off. I'm surprised they're not charging for the NXE! Sure it'll be cool, but an avatar based social environment? Sounds too much like a mix of Home and Miis to me. This will be cool, but I'd think it would be better if companies stuck to their own ideas, like Primetime in Microsoft's case.

  • Gaara79

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 9:34 pm PT

    The avitars in home will have the same type of store. I just hope they both give you enough in the normal set to make an avitar that's actually good.

  • ace-of-spades93

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 5:40 pm PT

    i wouldnt mind getting a isaac rig for my avatar as some sort of achievement

  • ace-of-spades93

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 5:38 pm PT

    @tudyniuz
    how can you say its laggy if you're too tight to pay for it ??

  • baseballboy6411

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 4:39 pm PT

    Depends on the price if it is any more than 0 cents then i am not paying.

  • kilaan

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 3:44 pm PT

    Nickel and dime you FTL!

  • tudyniuz posted Oct 29, 2008 3:36 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    tudyniuz

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 3:36 pm PT (hide)

    I couldn't care less about this.I don't have Xbox Live cause I don't wanna pay MS 60$ a year for laggy online play.The PS3 has better online play

  • CorporateHammer

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 3:24 pm PT

    man_alive

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 6:41 pm GMT

    what a turnoff. i can't respect anybody who would pay a single cent to outfit these lame ass avatars. so you force me to have this thing and then charge me to make it not look so stupid?

    there should be some kind of protest configuration for people who know when they're being jerked around. like a faceless pale silhouette in a plane grey tee.

    LOL, Well I took my protest as far as canceling my live account and stopped giving $ to M$ period. RROD set me free!!!

  • Mush_Mouth

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 2:45 pm PT

    I think this'll be a huge moneymaker for MS - look at how the marketplace and all the DLC has been working for them. On top of that, people love this stuff - look at pogo.com and all the other sites that let you create and deck out your avatars. If the price is right, this'll be really popular.

  • siLVURcross

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 2:43 pm PT

    You have to pay money for clothing? Just how much do they want to rip you off. And when will the consumer just stop and think just how much Microsoft's really charging for their system.

  • magicalclick

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 2:43 pm PT

    LOL, Ronricofsu, I am with you. We should have R rated party.

  • Lightz39

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 2:40 pm PT

    sounds cool, I doubt they will make much money off of it but hey, why not try.

  • WildHalo

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 2:30 pm PT

    i hope u can unlock new items/clothing by completing certain achievements for certain games

    lol like a masterchief helmet for beating legendary

  • abeard424

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 2:18 pm PT

    theres no way in hell I'm paying money for virtual clothing

  • Ronricofsu

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 2:14 pm PT

    no big deal, my avatar is gonna be naked anyways

  • PudgeMan

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 2:07 pm PT

    WHY IS THIS IN THE SONY SECTION TOM !!!>

  • MinerAvatar

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 1:37 pm PT

    Positive: My guess is this will be like how you get gamer pics for some games as part of your achievments, you will get a shirt or something.
    Negative: All I can say is I am sick and tired of paying for a gold account and never getting anything for it, now all the old themes and gamer pics I have are NEXT to useless. All I get is one out of the 4 pics for my themes, gee thanks. How about some free points for all the crap I bought that I can't use the same way now? I was an early customer to Xbox360 (2005) and now I see, cheaper prices (normal) with larger hard drives (not normal), HDMI ports (I could really use it), and now this. I got a system that red ringed and got back one that still didn't have a HDMI port, gee thanks. So when if ever will Microsoft reward the early people like me that allowed them to have this success? Why do I feel like I am constantly left behind by Microsoft? My reward for my staying a customer, NOTHING AT ALL. Thanks alot for finding another way to charge people for what SHOULD BE FREE, BTW!
    Bottom Line: Talk with your wallets and don't buy anything at all for the stupid Avatars. Do not buy ANY themes. Stop buying useless non game related DLC (maps at least have a real value), at least untill Microsoft gives us 14 Million Gold Members a bone and credit us some points for all the stuff we have that can not be used as intended now. I better get something out of this, its about time Microsoft remembers us 2005 early buyers of this system, with out whom they would have failed BTW!

  • DPhunkT

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 1:36 pm PT

    I don't like the word "store". Paying for gamer pics is one thing, but paying real $ for virtual clothes/accessories is another. What the heck.

  • Spartan-1137

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 1:33 pm PT

    great...........

  • Shadow_Fire41

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 1:15 pm PT

    this should be interesting.

  • Chico_Azteca

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 1:07 pm PT

    ok..lets check first what kind of stuff is on the update...

  • SolidKhan00

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 12:57 pm PT

    Haha, Micro$oft just loves charging for everything don't they?

  • sciteach256

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 12:34 pm PT

    hey man alive, there is a version of that faceless guy. it cost 800 ms points.

  • intoblivion

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 12:19 pm PT

    I won't mind a cost as long as you don't have to pay for individual colours.

  • limpbizkit818

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 12:03 pm PT

    You would think that they would give us Gold members some free stuff.

  • opaca

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 12:02 pm PT

    Nice, more updates. I really don´t know what are you complaining about. The more updated and the more stuff that is being put the better for the console, more money more marketing, right? Just those PS3 and Wii fanatics that just love complaining about stuff that competitors do.

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