What's in Microsoft's Xbox 360 fall update?

Unlike Sony, Microsoft likes to make updates to its games console in big chunks. So while thr Japanese company will trickle its PS3 updates out regulary, Microsoft issues two big Xbox 360 updates a year.

The so called "fall update" is already late, and looks like hitting consoles at some point in early December.

But whats going to be included in it?

[predator]

i just want video marketplace for the UK.

[blikz]

For me, i just want to open the server for Malaysia...that's all...I'm Malaysian..

[bluebrad1974]

It would be nice if they added a video playlist function. Some of the videos are rather short (but just long enough to auto-off the wireless controller), it makes it clunky changing video's.

[predator]

maybe also a new look for marketplace, or the abiltiy to have different themes for each blade, group chat and a clan blade, along with video marketplace for the uk.

[andy001]

I can't think of anything that I really want it to do. Obviously it would be nice to have the internet browser and customisable themes similar to the PS3 but I just don't think you will ever get that. It is just a games console at the end of the day, no more, no less.

This parental control thing will be there I guess, but I don't think they will do anything else. Perhaps it would be cool if they supported more codecs when using it as a media extender, but my media PC and 360 are in the same room, so that is irrelevant to me at least. What if they allowed you to stop displaying your gay-merscore, so those of us who have a life outside xbox live can forget about it altogether. It would be nice to see a list of arcade games sorted by most popular or a showcase of the best ones, as it is getting harder to browse through them if you don't access them every few days.

As far as the Video Marketplace, we already have it in the UK, its just that there is nothing on it to purchase. Maybe the IPTV deal will come at the same time?

[Hollander]

andy001 –
If you think gamers that have a high gamer score have no life, shouldn’t you be proud that you supposedly have a low score instead of being embarrassed by it???
Or perhaps you have a high score and that’s what you are embarrassed about? :P
Why would you care if people can see it or not? You are kind of contradicting your self there… but what ever…

[witchking]

I agree whole-heartedly. This is one thing PS3 and Nintendo have... hell, even the freakin' PSP can browse the web. C'mon, MSFT, you own IE... why no IE love on the 360?

[Hollander]

sorry posted something here by accident don’t know how to delete it...

[Dareaver1]

you state you don't need the media extender, yet you want a web browser "like the PS3's" when you said the 360 is in the same room as your pc.... wow, kinda contradictory, don't you think. Just a meaningless way of showing fanboy behavior.

[andy001]

I think thats a little unfair really, as you don't know how I have everything hooked up. My media PC is hooked up to a 32" LCD TV, whereas my 360 and PS3 are hooked up to a projector with an 80" screen. As I sit around 3 mtrs away from the screens then it can be a pain to browse the internet using the media PC, depending on the resolution and the size of text on a site, whereas I find it quite good to browse the internet on the PS3 whilst waiting for a download or whatever. The media centre PC acts really as a glorified ipod, as we watch movies through the PS3, and watch TV through Sky Digital.

All I said was that if there was something I would add to the dashboard then that would be it, so I could browse the internet in exactly the same way as I do with the PS3. It was really an afterthought as my immediate reaction was that it was fine and there was nothing really to add, although I would like the option to be able to use different themes and not pay for the privilege. Having just heard that the update is only adding downloadable xbox games and a movie 'rental' system, then I have been proved right, I think.

As for the fanboy comment.. whatever. I own both the consoles and own their previous generations. I am happy to play games on both and do not avoid games on any particular console. Sometimes I prefer the PS3 and sometimes I prefer the 360. My only beef is really when people wrongly state that the 360 is cheaper, as there are so many extras to purchase before you get what I think is a decent setup, and I don't like it when people will slag off a game to all and sundry based solely on a metacritic review score without ever seeing anything other than a low resolution youtube video, and then basing these reviews as whether a console has more 'AAA' titles or not.

But hey, you don't care about my opinion and I don't really care about yours, this is just the internet, so whatever box you decide to put me in thats fine with me, so long as you don't kick your dog, or insult the postman over it.

[Dareaver1]

thanx for elaborating on your setup, i now understand why you said what you said. I apologize if you were offended by my comment. I did not mean to offend. Nice setup by the way.... Good day.

[Strife Lives]

Something to put South Africa on the xbl list. Its sad,india has a bilion people,we gt only 48 milion, and more xbox 360 sales. Yet,we hafta keep waiting ! And rely on conecting through UK accounts. Come on MS !

[SlippyMadFrog]

Nice, a fellow South African. I agree with you, what does MS have to lose regarding rolling out XBL in South Africa? We already have a strong presence on XBL, but just on UK and USA accounts.

[bluebrad1974]

I read somewhere that Live was rolling out there soon (like this month or the beginning of Dec).

[predator]

so can u guys not play any multiplayer or do u have american/european accounts?

[SlippyMadFrog]

At the moment we use American or UK accounts. The bad thing about this is that when you join ranked matches, it assigns you to games from the country your account is from. This means that we play with UK or American people and not fellow South Africans and because of the distance between the countries, we experience heavy lag playing international. The only way we can play local games is if we create custom games and invite people on our friends list, if we do that then there are no lag in the matches.

[Hollander]

I think the update for Europe will be the upgraded Marketplace America already has.
And America will get something Cooler and Europe will once again feel like the Basted child of the Entertainment world.
I hope they proof me wrong…

I hope either we all get the same or Europe Finally gets something the rest of the world wont have, like being able to download BBC programs for free or something. (probably not)

[predator]

i was thinking this the other day, why dont they have a gamer channel, there own show or sumit with 360 news, previews of games, behind the scenes stuff, i thought that would be cool feature to have.

[witchking]

That's a great idea. Instead of having to worm through the marketplace for new arrivals, just have a monthly video magazine... do some video reviews from either OXM or partner with G4 or GameSpot or IGN to show some video reviews/previews, etc.

And hell, can we get some kind of schedule of what we'll be seeing on Arcade... maybe a month in advance would be nice.

[predator]

cheers witchking, yes i was also thinking abouta schedule for arcade release to, yeah if ms partners wit ign, gamespot or even oxm they could have a daily show just for the 360.

good points about the arcade schedule witchking

[kurochi]

It doesn't matter what kind of updates you have, if you have the RROD, it just doesn't matter.

My buddy is a avid 360 supporter (which is not bad, please, no flame war) and he just text me saying that he's got the RROD.... I LMAO and he was in the middle of playing the Orange Box. Tell me guys, what is the point of having timed exclusives when 1/3 of your machine fails? Kinda defeats the purpose for your customers, doesn't it?
I have all 3 major consoles so I am not bias against anyone. I like the 360 a lot. I use to rib my buddy for being such a defender of MS, but the silence is maddening from him in regard to MS now.... LOL
I just can't stop laughing..... You guys have to see the irony in this even if you're a fan boy...... LMFAO!!!
Consumers just shouldn't have to deal with this for a $400 dollars piece of equipment.....

edit to below:

Hey don't get me wrong, I stated I liked the 360 and still rent their games. But I'm just pointing out the obvious.... if you have the RROD, you're not going to care about your exclusives or updates, right? My buddy sure as hell doesn't care until he gets a replacement.... LOL
Jeez.... all the fanboys in here are tough. I'm just saying, you shouldn't have to deal with this for a $400 equipment.
As for Sony, they learned from their mistakes and behold(!!!) you don't have any failure rates that comes even close to the one that MS have.......
Please don't make this a Sony vs MS thing. I'm just simply saying that it gives me GREAT pleasure to see my buddy (an avid 360 defender) put in his place because of his blind faith in MS. Now he's starting to see how MS is treating their customers. It just amazes me that MS followers still defends this crap.... LOL

[nobizlikesnowbiz]

I bought three Ps2's, because the two first ones died on me.

Every time Sony told me I was out of luck and couldn't get it replaced.

If my 360 breaks down I can get it repaired for free.

[witchking]

Bought in January... 2 months after launch... and still going strong. I know a lot of folks who have suffered the RROD, but stop making it sound like it happens to everybody.

[kurochi]

to witchking:

you know what makes me laugh even harder?? My buddy said the exact same thing when I told him about my RROD experience....

Here's the conversation:

Me (3 months ago): Man, I have to send my 360 twice because of the RROD.

Buddy (3 months ago): Still on my first 360 Bought in January... 2 months after launch... and still going strong. I know a lot of folks who have suffered the RROD, but stop making it sound like it happens to everybody.

Me (now): LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

Buddy (now): ......

I'm not making it sound like it happens to everybody, but 30% fail rate @ $400 a pop? Keep defending it boys....
It's ok to admit you're wrong about MS. It's still a great machine, but they've got to get it FIXED!!!

Update: My buddy just got off the phone with MS..... the rep told him it'll take a month to get this issue resolved. LOL LOL
Come on guys, even you have to find this amusing!!!

to slippymadfrog:

C'mon, stop making this about Sony vs MS. I totally agree with you on your statement in regard to each having their flaws.

But, I hope you're not serious about this statement:
"Tell me, what is 3 weeks out of 2 years of gaming? Nothing. It isn't that bad."

That's what I'm trying to understand, what makes a person spend $400 dollars on a machine and live with a 30% fail rate? It may be just me, but as a consumer, I expect the machine not to fail after 2 years of playing. I offered my 360 to my buddy as a loaner... LOL

[SlippyMadFrog]

The thing is that both the PS3 and Xbox360 have their flaws. You're buddy will be silent for a couple of weeks then back to playing some quality games on the Xbox360.
Tell me, what is 3 weeks out of 2 years of gaming? Nothing. It isn't that bad.

[DARK WITNESS]

again as you say, not that i want to start a 360 vs ps3 war, but...

i have a 360 working just fine, i also have a ps3 working just fine. i have warhawk and tekken and have not played anything on my ps3 for about 4 weeks now. so whats the point, it may as well be faulty and sent back to sony.

until the ps3 as some real worth while games that can really keep me playing it is as broken as a 360 having RROD.

sure you have COD4 now, but broken servers, when we are all playing fine and ranking up like mad !

anyway happy gaming if you have either and even happier gaming if you have both !

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

It's so obvious your a liar. Have fun playing Spiderman 3, Droid becasue it's all your going to have left after this year.

[verawarez]

Sony is having a bad time with the ps3 at least at the momment...

[donscrillinger]

the video functions would be very nice ,also they need to let me still private chat with 360 users when i'm playing Xbox 1 games,and update the private chat to 4 not just 2 people being able to chat with each other .or go old school with the chat on the dash board so that 16 people can chat at once cuz this 1 on 1 is lame .1 more thing INCREASE THE FRIENDS LIST TO A GIG OR SOMETHING ,i've max the 100 friends list the 1 year i had live

[victorMaje]

The Family Timer addition could be nice...then again, it would be as if telling parents they really don't have any authority over their children when it comes to stopping them from playing.

A "right" parent would never need a machine to tell their kids when it's time to pause...

[tee_bag242]

The is a lame article as its clearly not a great update. What about conference voice calls? what about a completely new theme or layout?...my god it's so stale now. The writer of the article considering the child counter a 'big update unlike sony'. Sorry, but it isnt a sony vs microsoft thing. Let them worry about themselves fool! Its just a really unexiting, kinda lazy update.

[rodellison]

I agree, whats new in this article..? Parental control - no new info here, already mentioned in 10 other articles last week. DivX, the article just mentions the existing speculation but no new meat. Isnt there anything else that could have been mentioned?

[witchking]

... and so far there isn't much news from MSFT on what this update is going to have in it... or why it's late. I'm hoping they're just not telling us yet, but frankly maybe this is it... family timer... that's what they've been working on for the last 7 months.

[DZNetworks]

At first I was enthralled with the blade interface, now not so much.

It is a pain to navigate sometimes. They need something cool and innovative.

[moolox]

it's free would be the biggest update. The great MS swindle, My ps3 and 360 cost the same as i have paid MS £80 for Xblive. Less people to play online on the PS3 but you can still play.

Come on MS set your people free.

[Hollander]

What I would like to see is a way to transfer my mp3’s on to my 360 with out having to burn them on a CD first… now I consume 3 times the amount of power because I need to have my PC turned on to listen to music…

[killedinaction9]

Can we have Party chat.
I still play GOW sometimes and the amount of retards is unbearable.

The coolest thing in Halo was the party chat for me.

[deepio]

Amazing, no one's mentioned the possible inclusion of DivX?!? Which would be sweeeeet....

[slak]

I think its clan support

[PS360PCROCKS]

Just add the damn DIVX support already!!!!

[weswedfert]

i feel sorry for u kids that are gonna get that "family timer" haha that'll suk

[Djpanam]

or a mad girlfriend

[Jdash24]

wait december........wouldnt that make it the winter update? not the fall update

[Transit]

Well as long as it is before Dec 22 it is still technically fall

[Boldy]

Winter doesn't start until December 22, and I'm sure this will be out before then.

[Close_Second]

...was hoping for a list of actual updates not speculation or talk about the UK getting video Marketplace. How does the UK getting marketplace impact the content of the fall update anyway? Surely they already have a marketplace component on their dashboard but like here in New Zealand, there's SFA to pick from.

[The Snake]

I'd like to be able to take all the arcade demos off my played games list. Retail game demos don't show, why should arcade demos?

[TrenchaunT]

Parental timer is a great idea. I will be shocked if they actually add DivX--shocked and thrilled. But what I really want is Xvid and AC-3, plus AVI container (not sure if that is already supported?)

[weswedfert]

bubbles 4 u

[Close_Second]

...the ability to playback copy protected songs downloaded onto the Ipod onto the PC or Ipod. Its annoying that it can only see the mp3 files.

Be nice to also get an overhauled media player interface. The one for music playback is tired and lacks some key information when playing back tracks. And what ever happened to the good ole bar spectrum analyser over the display of random patterns!

[AZgamerB3yond]

Hey MS how about you add the hdmi/wifi/1080p/hddvd/freeonli ne/lowfailurerate update? Maybe Id buy one then...

[Alpha_Gamer]

DIVX would be awsome.

[predator]

hopfully any day now ms will make an annoucement of when and what new features will be in the update

[power of Green]

Secret=big.

[power of Green]

Parental Control leak and talk is just 360 spiral marketing throwing people off getting the haters and dipsh*ts talking sh*t etc.

Kevin P. from AOTS tried to get Major Nelson to admit MSFT was working on the browsing he did not dissmiss it saying "MSFT is thinking about it" last E3(testing is why its so late).

I purchased my Text pad anyways just incase.

[rofldings]

Kevin is the biggest 360 fanboy on television.

[solidt12]

No kid with strict parents is going to want a 360 knowing there parent can restrict there use.

[solidt12]

No kid with strict parents is going to want a 360 knowing there parent can restrict there use.

[solidt12]

No kid with strict parents is going to want a 360 knowing there parent can restrict there use.

[The Milkman]

I would love to have DivX support on my Xbox because I cannot get any of my videos on my media center to play on the 360. Does anyone know what videos I'am able to play currently?

[betoweto]

just got the msg on XBL

[betoweto]

just got the msg on XBL

[HarryEtTubMan]

Microsoft sucks.

[n00dl3s]

I'm crossing my fingers for DivX compatibility. Either that or I would love a web browser in the future that way I can use my Winamp Remote. Either one would be perfect. My problem would be solved either way.

[Wii60_FTW]

Live and the 360 Dashboard are already perfect. I couldn't imagine anything new needing to be added. Now, ps3 needs a lot of help LOL.

[dukegodtezza]

ive got my dvd collection on my external hd
butt 360 won't play dvds,so an update to play dvd's and divx
would rock, streaming dvds strait to home theather now that
would be great
ps so much for RROD my son and 2 friends played halo3 for 3 days
strait and blew up my projector lol .the fan melted

[predator]

i have put some actuall info about the update, in the update section, download xbox 1 games from live, video marketplace for europe