First look at Microsoft's gorgeous new Xbox avatars (exclusive)

Here's an early look at the next version of the Xbox Avatar Editor, coming soon to Xbox One and Windows 10 as part of the Fall Creators Update.

[B1uBurneR]

What a waste of resources

[timotim]

Not at all. For starters, this isn't made by any of MS's official first party game studios so its not interfering with development for any games being worked on currently. And secondly, Microsoft can use these personalized avatars in future games that will be developed by first party/3rd party studios. These new avatars are being constructed with higher fidelity animation and skeletons. These new avatars can fit in a lot of games from racers to action to sports etc a lot better than the current ones.

[Prince_TFK]

You stated the fact and you still get downvoted. SMH N4G.

I wonder how much praise Sony would get from these fanboy if this was on PS4.

[CapitalGamerNZ]

Looking at his comment history saying anything positive is difficult for him.

[DARK_WOLF]

Yeah a racer like mario kart but can use your avatar if you want.

Its a cool feature. I mean how long do we all spend creating new characters in games. Then getting armor ect and customizing them.

How is this any different? The selfie generation especially would love this surely.

I think its great.

Honestly some people just seem to complain and be negative to anything and everything MS.

Its just SAD! 😅

[Omnislashver36]

It's dumb, nobody cares about this crap. 1st party AAA games now, I can play those.

If this is just for your dash and some sidegames, who the hell cares.

[bluefox755]

@Kum_ADR it would still be stupid if it were on PS4.

[bolimekurac]

we had avatars for many years and they havent done jack shit with them so to hope on future uses for avatars is not giving me any hope but i love them as they are cool to have, its a unique way of identifying yourself and creating a personality but there is no use for them other then that at the moment

where is the movie theatre so i can sit with my avatar and friends avatars, where are the 1 in 100 type of games to use my avatar, where are the virtual homes for us to use our avatars, there is none of that , so making them (avatars) all pretty isnt going to change that.

[Prince_TFK]

@Bluefox

I seem to remember the joy and happiness this site get when PS Home and avatar was announced.

[B1uBurneR]

Link please? Nowhere in this article states we can use them in game in any form.

Rainbow 6 Vegas (1) haD the right idea scan your face place it on your character for multiplayer gaming.

Kinect Sports adventure took it to the next step by scanning your entire body and placed you in the game.

If this New Avatar does nothing to that affect then it's a waste of resources.

[Godmars290]

@timotim:
Thing is MS is currently known for making grand gestures that show much potential that fail to develop into anything. Like Kinect or Cloud gaming. Neither for all the talk and promotion around them either have yet to develop into anything truly significant or have been scaled back into obscurity. Though in this case there is a saving grace in that its low key. They may be talking about using avatars as element in games but they aren't making any large promotions that could take years to materialize.

Then again this then begs on the issue of MS not making games. Of how they only seem concerned with online community titles to bring in sub and microtransactions.

@Kun_ADR:
How much was Sony praised for Home? Pretty sure everyone panned that.

[Prince_TFK]

@Godma

Look at the comments in this article:
http://n4g.com/news/1703677...

The praise for PS Home was off the hook and anyone dare to say bad got downvoted as always.

Xbox new avatar is free and cost no one a dime, yet people here hate it as usual. I'm not an Xbox fanboy (heck I don't even own one, as long as I can game on my PC I don't need an Xbox), but the hypocrisy on this site is just too much.

[freshslicepizza]

How many man hours are wasted in photo mode for a popular franchise? You do realize Microsoft has various teams working on various parts of the Xbox team. People pay for Xbox Live so why wouldn't they use some of those resources towards stuff like this?

[ChronoJoe]

To be fair though, they were always designed to be placed into games, but we never really saw them used. Even if they originally feature a rig that allowed them to be animated that well, it didn't prevent devs including them, and it's not all that difficult to create a new rig if they want to do something more complicated.

In reality, I really doubt we'll see come to much use outside of the dashboard.

[rainslacker]

I see a lot of people criticizing MS on their game offerings.

MS provides a feature that could possibly be used for games, but with no actual real world implementation for that potential to be realized.

MS fan: "MS is innovative, they've improved what they already had before and it could be used in compelling ways".....disregarding past implementation of the same feature which didn't look as nice.

Everyone else: "where are the games?"

It's not so much that this was probably a huge expenditure, but despite the fact that it wasn't made by their 1st party, it's still a use of resources. Wasted? That would depend on what MS intends to do with them, and the subjective notion of if that implantation is worthwhile. But if MS is spending money on this, then they aren't spending it on games, and given some people's criticism, and MS lack of compelling avatar usage in the past, I can see why people would consider it wasted.

@Kun_ADR

PSHome was a fully realized social program for PlayStation 3. It wasn't just avatars. There was some talk about how those avatars could be used in other places, but it never happened.

A feature means nothing without some way to use it. As of right now, the only way to use it is to make an avatar to express yourself. Hardly the same level as what PSHome offered.

Was PSHome great? Not to me. It was kind of cool at best. But it's much more than what MS is offering here which is nothing more than an enhancement to an already existing thing they've had for years, which really never went anywhere beyond seeing what the bottom of one's avatar's shoe looks like.

Thats' the difference. Bringing up something from 10+ years ago which was fairly new for consoles, compared to an improvement on an existing feature, and you're trying to act like there is some hypocrisy involved on people's excitement levels when MS has already shown the extent to which Avatars would be used?

Yeah, that seems like it's a comparable thing.

Sorry, but if I went and looked up the excitement for the original avatars, wouldn't it be just as stupid as you're implying PSHome was? Wouldn't we see people saying how great it could be to add your avatar into all these games, yet after all this time, having very few games which actually did?

[Godmars290]

@Kun_ADR:
As many positive as negative. Also, from as far as I can tell, that was about Home post closure. After it was released and developed as its own platform with Sony unwilling to carry it to the PS4. Despite that it had substance and was a proven if mediocre product.

Now we've got Xbox Avatars, the 2nd attempt at such btw, and as usual the Xbox camp has set to praising something from MS based solely on potential with any condemnation seen as typical Sony fanboy sour grapes. Again, nevermind that no actual results exist to be honestly judged.

We've been through this with Kinect, and are still going through it with cloud support as Crackdown seems to be suffering downgrades and little to no mention of a feature announced around the Xb1's launch as we wait for the XbX's release.

Again, if it seems that Sony fanboys attack MS, its because they've repeatedly failed to deliver on promises, talk up "potential" rather than show results, as their fan camp defend and praise them on things yet to be delivered.

[psuedo]

It is a waste of resources when that money that they payed the company to do this could go to something better. Avatar games suck from my experience.

[DARK_WOLF]

Motorcross madness was great

[gamer7804]

yah 1 vs 100 and full house poker were a terrrible games, LOL right. nothing like criticizing an added feature for no reason other than its on xbox

[yellowgerbil]

exactly. like buying minecraft. with the billions spent on that game you could of made a minecraft clone and 20 other AAA exclusives. but Microsoft don't care about giving their fans games, instead you can settle for a barbie doll you can cloth

[bolimekurac]

yeah the new avatars are all nice and yeah maybe they might be used in a game down the line but i have to agree with b1uburner on this one, a total waste of resources, we have had avatars for many years now and what use have they been put to, ..... none. it is nice to have, a nice way to customize your name to a character, im not downplaying it and its a cool thing to have but they give no reason as to having one, now if this was on ps4 and sony still had playstation HOME ( the virual world )then this would make sense but right now its just a character that no one really cares about . i would rather they spent all that time to make a better dash, put everyone on that and fix that first

we used to have a theatre room so our avatars could chill together, there was talk of virtual homes so our avatars could chill together, there used to be 1 in 100 where are avatars played together, all that is gone, so making avatars more pretty is pointless until they give a use for them

[RommyReigns]

But...... EXCLUSIIIIIIIIIIVE!!!! :P

[Matology]

Why?

[NicSage]

My 8 year old son said " what is the point of that. It isn't even needed. "

[kstuffs]

How's changing your psn username coming along with the increase monthly payment?

[B1uBurneR]

@Kstuff, wait... what does that have to do with anything? They would have a better chance of using that resource to make Cortana better, or else do away with her(IT) completely.

[2pacalypsenow]

Do people even use these?? I haven't updated mine since 2011.

[Sonic_Vs_Mario]

Obviously they do use Avatars. On YouTube there's over 1.5 million views and over 40 thousand likes

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[2pacalypsenow]

I watched that video and I don't use them..

[OMGitzThatGuy]

^You are not "people", you are a person. He is not trying to prove that you didn't watch the video or that you do or do not use avatars he is simply answering your question of "Do people even use these??". And by the likes on the video people do or plan to use them.

[nix]

Last time I ever bothered to change my avatar was last gen. I don't even care what it looks like anymore.

Going by views/likes ratio, looks like majority aren't that interested. Many "view" it out of curiosity too, u know.

[Eonjay]

Which would be really cool if it was a game.

"OMG! I can't wait to get home and boot up my Xbox to look at my avatars! Its exclusive!"

They are fine but they don't get to skip on content for 11 months because they made an avatar wink at you.

[LexHazard79]

If you look on your friends list youll see alot of people still have them. I use mine as my gamerpic so id say yes.
I cant wait for the new ones, MS needs to make some games where your avatars could be used. Some crazy party game!

[timotim]

The answer is a big fat YES! One look through my groups on X1 and you can easily see many people still invest in there avatars. Lots of people use them.

[Lostbytes]

this is just because, up until a update or two ago, Avatars were the ONLY viable option for a Gamer pic if you wanted to be original. This is no longer the case, you can have a Custom Gamer pic now. (I personally could care less about them. i used one for my Gamer pic for years, with the same outfit i originally put on it. This does not mean i liked it. it was just the best option) So People using the avatar as a gamer pic is not supporting evidence.

[timotim]

@Lostbytes

Incorrect. Ya see all gamers using X1 has the option to use there gamerpic (a static picture that can be of anything) OR there animated avatar for there profile. Looking through my groups, most have set there animated avatar as there representation of themselves and no not use there gamerpic.

[rainslacker]

It's available for free, so why not have one? Heck, it's even part of the XBL set up process to make one. This doesn't mean that there are tons of people investing their time in them with any great effort.

I've had the same avatar I created when they made XBL available on mobile devices way back in the day. I have one. It's my profile pick. Outside of a change in hair style, it's pretty much the default one they threw up there to get me started during the set up process. I'm sure there are those that take more time to create one, but is it really a "Big fat" feature that a great number of people really want or utilize for all that it offers?

[Summons75]

Yeah. I mean I'll go in and change the shirt every so often but everything is pretty much set...and I could never give up my Chocobo prop.

[Seraphim]

yep. I think they're absolutely stupid. but to each their own, different stroke for different folks and so on.

[GamingCentaur]

You set one up when you buy an Xbox then just forget about them.

[Bnet343]

that's because they sort of made them irrelevant but on the Xbox 360 you can use them for games like Dorito's Crash Course or Full House Poker which I actually spent time playing lol... They aren't bad.

[stuna1]

And this is why Microsoft is in the position they're in now! But of course someone will come along to defend them! Shameful.

[LexHazard79]

Whats shameful is you guys making a big deal about an Avatar upgrade. Something that been on Xbox for yrs and used by many.
My Avatar is hoisting the Lombardi trophy with a Patriots backdrop confetti and all.

Dont be all triggered because you lost Home and sim looking avatars on PSN.

[Bigpappy]

Kids love to hate on stuff.

[InTheLab]

And what if you game om xbox and want nothing to do with avatars?

[Prince_TFK]

InTheLab

Then you ignore it. How is it so difficult to understand such basic concept?

[RommyReigns]

Anyone with the PlayStation app can make an avatar of literally any image they like.

[mark_parch]

@InTheLab If you game on xbox and want nothing to do with avatars then don't read an article about them and then comment you moron. IT'S OPTIONAL AND FREE.

[MagicBeanz]

"Whats shameful is you guys making a big deal about an Avatar upgrade", I'll try to remember that next time I see all you xbox fanboys making a big deal out of literally everything Sony does, and by "big deal" I mean try to make it out to be negative.

[InTheLab]

@mark

Sorry I tickled your nipples there bud. Name calling and CAP shouting. Completely unnecessary.

Also, the point of a forum is discussion. Only people who want avatars are allowed to comment on the entire post? Don't be such a child.

If there is a way to turn it off, I'd be satisfied. But the previous version had them front and center and that is what I do not want.

[GamingCentaur]

No one cares about avatars, Miis or PS Home. It’s all useless and stupid.

[Kiwi66]

Shameful for what , giving it's fanbase something thats optional

[mark_parch]

@stuna1 You think it's shameful that microsoft have a new avatar app lol, grow up. Why does an avatar app need defending and microsoft are in a great position just because they haven't sold as much hardware as the competition lol. not that i'm bothered about how good microsoft are doing but pretty sure they make a crazy anount of money from xbox live, ea access, game pass and digital sales. for the record i actually think this new avatar app looks pretty good.

[Condemnedman]

really? defending what? because they give someone an option? why don't you invest your time in telling Sony to allow cross play?

[rainslacker]

Nothing wrong with the feature, or even saying it's coming or whatever. I think that it's highlighting that some Xbox owners seem more excited, and hype up features more than they do games themselves.

As best I can tell, the standards that Xbox fan boys place on MS to deliver is pretty low.

@Lex

i see the Xbox fans making just a big of a deal over avatars as the PS fans are on the opposite side of deals. Kind of goes both ways. At least in your comment above you weren't overhyping it, but then there are others that do.

Would be nice if some games use it, but I think in the grand scheme of things, the games that use it aren't going to be exceptionally noteworthy. But certainly worthwhile for casual or social type games.

[PlayableGamez-]

Because they updated the avatars?
Lol. You Xbox haters are always reaching.

[stuna1]

I seem to have frayed nerves over my comment on avatars!? What's mindboggling is there's no such outcry over exclusive games! What is wrong with you guys?

[DARK_WOLF]

Hey look! people complaining about cool new features for xbox.

Color me surprised!

/s

[SilverDemon]

They complain for the same readon people complained about valve's new game (dota cards game) and Nintendo fans with Metroid faderation force

They ask for something but got the opposite instead

The fact they were asking for first party exclusives but instead they keep getting new controllers and updates is irritating
As if MS is ignoring them

I remember earlier this year when ps4 was getting all those exclusives and phil spencer said wait for e3 and what we got? Update for BC program and 3rd party multiplats......how would you feel after that?

[DARK_WOLF]

He never said wait for e3 he simply said his focus is on 1st party and theres room to improve and deals have been signed.

Also is it really so hard to understand that a company is built up of multiple departments and teams?

Its not like everyone is working on the same thing. God forbid MS improve their platform and deliver new features right?

[Omnislashver36]

Cool new features like AAA games?

Oh, it's just something that goes on your dashboard. Lame. I can get a dancing anime girl on my desktop if I wanted one of those.

As for side games, who the hell cares. MS 1st party AAA is nowhere to be found except Forza. They'll eventually release a Gears game and Halo 6- Gears got terrible compared to 1-3 and Halo 6 is yet another Halo. We got 3, ODST, Reach, and 4 just last-gen. 1-2 before that. How much can you just bank on one game, seriously?

No idea how you can defend getting a dash avatar for sidegames when you play the same damn thing year after year. Atleast Sony takes breaks most of the time they do sequels/remakes and has new properties as well..

[DARK_WOLF]

Your comment belongs in a toilet.

[Omnislashver36]

You belong in the toilet my friend. Got some objectivity in my post which must be why you're so butthurt. Where are the 1st party AAA aside Halo/Forza/Gears? *crickets*

[Condemnedman]

just mark him a troll that's what he is

[rainslacker]

I defend the notion that it can be used in games, because MS should be investing in games across the board. Not just AAA, but also the lower end stuff which drives sales to new customers.

Whether those games are good or not we couldn't say, but an avatar edition I doubt would affect the quality of the game either way.

There's nothing wrong with the feature, or it's potential use, or even MS talking about it, so there's no reason to play down the actual feature.

however, in lieu of them actually releasing games, this feature seems to fall in the offering in regards to actually remedying their lack of games output, so it's going to be more harshly criticized.

[generic-user-name]

I hope the '/s' applies to you referring to this as a cool new feature.

[GamingCentaur]

Maybe people want actual games instead of stupid avatars. Gamers want games. Who could have guessed?

[Sm00thNinja]

Looking forward to it

[georgenancy]

looking foward to avatars?lmao

[Sm00thNinja]

Yup.

[EmperorDalek]

In before the no games comments... oops, too late. Gotta be quick to beat the Cult of Sony on an Xbox article.

[DARK_WOLF]

Haha oh man its SAD isnt it! 😂

[DELTABOY04]

wow...looks dumb

[FallenAngel1984]

These avatars are the best thing Rare has done since they started working for Microsoft

[Yohshida]

Viva Piñata
Kameo
Conker’s Bad Fur Day
Grabbed by the Ghoulies
Rare Replay
and soon Sea of thieves

are all good games, but you know that already. Just had to hate on them, did you?

[Segata]

The Xbox Conker sucks. They censored it. Grabbed was a crap game. Kameo was mediocre. Viva was alright. Rare replay doesn't count. It's just a re-release of when they were with Nintendo.

[FallenAngel1984]

Conker's BFD was released when they were still working with Nintendo.

Rare Replay is just further reminder that they put out better titles when they were with Nintendo.

Sea of Thieves isn't even out yet.

[Broomfondle]

OMG! OMG! OMG! This will surely make me go out and buy an Xbox,,,,,,,said nobody ever.

[Hanilugtehul]

This looks great 😊

[IceKoldKilla]

Hahahaha! Is this serious? It says "gorgeous" and (exclusive). I don't want that. Keep it exclusive to the devs, we don't need it. Gorgeous? Hahaha

[quenomamen]

Gorgeous ? Nice try Windowscentral.com

[Greedsin]

For a while I thought they were going to drop the avatar stuff. they released the old version on Xbox One and didn't really do much with them. I'm kind of glad their re-doing them now.

[FloydianAndroid]

I think it's gonna be awesome personally.

[Kojjikaneshiro]

They look nice and seem alot more fun than the originals.I for one look forward to these,I'm sure my kids will love them also.To each their own.I enjoyed the ones on PSN also.

[PaulFiend]

gorgeous lol

[maybelovehate]

Seeing as they are made in Unity, we better be able to use them in Unity Games.. Please don't mess this up MS.

[Lostbytes]

Avatars...Who cares? Just another way of leeching your pocket to death. I do not understand why ppl pay for cosmetics. I remember when cosmetics where all unlock thru challenges in game. Now it's "you want to look like, a dork pay me 2 $"
The ppl who pay for this shit are ruining my gaming experience. All i want is a box that plays games. No frills. Just works.

[Jakens]

A box that plays game.

It is done already.

[Lostbytes]

Where is the just works?

[MagicBeanz]

"gorgeous" might be a bit of a stretch. There just avatars lets not over embellish here.

[Da12RespectA]

Dope!

[subtenko]

"'gorgeous new Xbox avatars" like its something so amazing.....

while there seems to be variety, I cant help but notice how much they made their avatars act/look like the Barbie franchise.....especially with the opening scene x)

[xX1NORM1Xx]

these look pretty cool looking forward to trying them i assume part of the fall update will make the avatars a prominent part of your profile instead of hidden away like they are now.

[-GreenRanger]

Man I really wish these avatars would just go already. They are Gaia Online pointless.

[BIGBOSS08]

Are the avatars true 4k?

[bu3ouf91]

Don't get me wrong but it looks so identical to the previous version.

[liran]

What's the point of writing "exclusive"? We know already that avatars are xbox only since the 360.
This is the only time we will see exclusive next to the xbox word?
Sorry but promoting avatar changes that I doubt that somebody even bother editing more than the first time is dumb.

Stop publishing crap shit and talk only about games.

[Segata]

They are hideously ugly and creepy.

[Monduu]

NuMale-Gay-Metro avatars?

[4Sh0w]

You ps fans are funny....jeesh they are free avatars, but here comes the fake outrage, lol many of you spend more time talking about Xbox than ps.

[Emme]

Everythings better than Mii. I like those avatars.

[StormLegend]

Who needs games when you got exclusive avatars? :D let's go play with avatars for hours instead of playing new games!!

[RAM0N]

Last gen was when I customized my avatar. Today I don't even care.

[McGlinchey12]

Why are nintendo and microsoft always making childish shit