Xbox 360 Spring Update revealed

Microsoft introducing Windows Live Messenger capabilities into Xbox Live, planning to release keyboard attachment for controllers.

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Microsoft today announced that the Xbox 360 Spring Update will be released next month, and the revisions to the system's dashboard will include increased instant messaging abilities, revisions to the Xbox Live Marketplace, and more detailed achievement alerts.

The biggest change in the cards for the Spring Update is the addition of Windows Live Messenger functionality. In addition to letting Messenger users on the PC chat with their 360-having friends, the update will also let Xbox 360 owners see if any of their Messenger contacts have Xbox Live gamertags. Messenger contacts will be kept in a list separate from Xbox Live friends, and Xbox 360 users will be able to chat with six Messenger contacts at any given time.

Xbox 360 gamers who quickly grow tired of navigating the onscreen virtual keyboard to type messages can either plug a USB keyboard into the system, or wait for Microsoft to release its new Xbox 360 keyboard controller attachment this summer. Snapping into place on the bottom side of the controller through the headset jack, the as-yet unnamed device features a QWERTY-style keyboard layout. Users will be able to access the new chat functions from an option on the system's main menu, in the same spot where the Xbox Live Marketplace can currently be found.

The chat functionality is displacing the current Marketplace menu option, but the Xbox 360's online store shouldn't be any tougher to find. Microsoft is creating a new desktop "blade" to serve as the Marketplace's main access point. While gamers can customize their system's existing desktop blades with downloadable themes from the Marketplace, users won't be able to personalize the look of the store's own blade.

The Spring Update will also add to users' options when it comes to downloading content from the Marketplace. Gamers concerned about leaving their systems on overnight in order to grab large downloads will be able to rest easier. Any user will be able to queue up a stack of downloads and then put the system into a low-power mode while they are retrieved. Once the queue is empty, the system will shut itself off.

New Xbox 360 owners looking to catch up on everything the Xbox Live Arcade has to offer can set the Auto Downloads option to automatically retrieve not just new demos of XBLA games, but the entire collection of XBLA demos. Progressive download controls will also let those grabbing videos from the Marketplace to fast-forward, rewind, and pause their clips as they are being downloaded.

Microsoft is also streamlining the notification process for achievements. No longer will players have to push the guide button and bring the game to a halt to find out what they did when an achievement notification pops up. The Spring Update will change the notification to include the short name of the achievement, as well as its gamerscore value.

Microsoft plans to have the Xbox 360 Spring Update available beginning the week of May 7.

927 Comments

  • Zoomer30

    Posted Jan 1, 2009 8:38 am PT

    hmmm....Desktop blade...wonder where they got that cool idea from....Oh thats right, they copied the PS3 XMB

    Well, at least they know to steal from the best

  • Xcrave

    Posted May 9, 2007 11:55 am PT

    ohhhh ok cause i dnt think u can change the live messenger addy u use to sign up to xbox live so da only way to get passed that is to make a new xbox live account but use an 18+ windows live messenger address

  • slim_grim

    Posted May 9, 2007 11:51 am PT

    I got it, very annoyed at the fact that I can't use messenger though. I've been trying to change family settings to allow it, but no luck.

    Any suggestions?

  • wario264

    Posted May 9, 2007 8:39 am PT

    IT SAYS THAT I CANT SIGN IN COS I HAVE A CHILDS ACCOUNT WHAT DO I DO ???

  • Xcrave

    Posted May 9, 2007 8:36 am PT

    yay i got da update

  • m63436

    Posted May 9, 2007 4:44 am PT

    I've just got the update

  • deroco

    Posted May 8, 2007 4:36 pm PT

    I heard it was delayed

  • joeyc143

    Posted May 8, 2007 2:46 pm PT

    Ha ha!!!

  • Xcrave

    Posted May 8, 2007 1:36 pm PT

    i want the update it looks cool i hope its out on wednesday

  • Chuffy03

    Posted May 8, 2007 8:51 am PT

    joeyc143 how did u get the update!!!! or u bammin us all up?

  • ash1966

    Posted May 8, 2007 4:09 am PT

    how have you got the update joeyc143???

  • joeyc143

    Posted May 7, 2007 8:19 pm PT

    I finally got the update. It's pretty cool!!!

  • Modx22

    Posted May 7, 2007 4:42 pm PT

    who knows it could be a while

  • sstadick

    Posted May 7, 2007 2:02 pm PT

    anyday here the update will come I bet tommorrow morning

  • luisrbrionesbds

    Posted May 7, 2007 2:01 pm PT

    Is this another update?, or is the same push to june 6?????????????????????????????????????????????????
    http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/786/786002p1.html

  • KillSwitch307

    Posted May 7, 2007 12:46 pm PT

    it says the week of may 7th, so its anytime this week, not nessesaryly today

  • darkangel494

    Posted May 7, 2007 11:08 am PT

    where the hell is my update its 7.05pm in the uk still nothing happenning

  • Xcrave

    Posted May 7, 2007 10:25 am PT

    that new keyboard thing looks well good

  • Headhunter01

    Posted May 7, 2007 8:56 am PT

    it says "beginning the week of May 7th." I'm guessing that doesn't necessarily mean Monday.

  • HH-Gizmo

    Posted May 7, 2007 8:20 am PT

    16:20 no update in the uk

  • chris2023

    Posted May 7, 2007 6:41 am PT

    no update in the uk yet at 14.40

  • nizammoosa

    Posted May 7, 2007 6:06 am PT

    14:05 UK time and still no update is out in the US or is it not out anywhere at all?

  • Xcrave

    Posted May 7, 2007 5:12 am PT

    No update yet in the UK its about 13:06 i thought the update was out today?

  • emerald101

    Posted May 7, 2007 4:38 am PT

    No one has it yet????

  • allan9090

    Posted May 7, 2007 3:57 am PT

    no update for me may 7th 12 noon uk time what??

  • Chuffy03

    Posted May 7, 2007 3:55 am PT

    Dose any1 have the update yet? its May 7th 11.45am UK time and still no update!!

  • emerald101

    Posted May 7, 2007 3:41 am PT

    Ok den wheres my update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • gamesade369

    Posted May 7, 2007 12:39 am PT

    yeh where's the update!!!

  • TheKretinousQ

    Posted May 7, 2007 12:19 am PT

    Okay so Im on Live now it's May 7 8:20am UK time. Where's my update?

  • ranvirusdomx

    Posted May 6, 2007 4:54 pm PT

    y release the keyboard after the update thats stupid they should release it with the update the dumb f@#$ but still it sould b worth the wait

  • emerald101

    Posted May 6, 2007 7:22 am PT

    The date for this update is worldwide so dont worry uk 360 owners.

  • AJmon13

    Posted May 3, 2007 3:50 pm PT

    Yeah why can't we fast forward music...anyway those are all so cool ^_^
    Now to....download MSN messanger 0_o

  • bern20

    Posted May 3, 2007 12:53 am PT

    I agree with aticus. that keyboard looks not only sexy. but SECI lol

  • mcbride69

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 4:31 pm PT

    Is this update going to to be available in the UK on May 7 or will we have to wait like the Xbox 360 Elite???

  • atticusg47

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 9:59 pm PT

    btw morons there is no such thing as an original idea. dumbasses

  • atticusg47

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 9:58 pm PT

    i dont care how much that keyboard costs, its sexy as ****

  • BloodLoss

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 3:15 pm PT

    Wow! This place is just full of stupid today!

  • eldanomano

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 12:23 pm PT

    Are half of these people retarded? They're saying how "Oh my god, why is mircosoft making their controllers bigger?" The controllers are staying the same, they're just selling a keyboard attachment for them!

  • habsfan21

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 5:50 pm PT

    sweet!

  • FLOWZMENTAL

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 11:52 am PT

    I bet that keyboard in gonna be about 25-35 bucks. When I got a usb 360 compatible Microsoft keyboard for $17 and I have a wireless Microsoft keyboard/mouse that is compatible for $42. This on here makes the controller to big and probably to heavy. It's kinda looks like the one the GameCube came out with for the Japan release of PSO. And honestly who still uses msn messenger anyway, also what's the use of text chatting, unless you're talking to someone on a PC, when you have video and voice chat? But all of the rest of the updates are gravy. Now if they can just make it so you can fast forward your music (something I don't understand) it would be on. Oh! And a virtual 3D space like the PS3 is doing (even-though I hate Sony and I don't own one product besides DVDs and CDs produced by them not even from their sub-divisions). But coping Sony in one area isn't all bad hell what could be worse?

  • _Sam_

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 5:27 pm PT

    These sound like great updates! I hope that they get everything working

  • SemiMaster

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 12:50 pm PT

    I just want to know if the 360 is going to have a web browser at any point...

  • Tda503

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 12:49 pm PT

    this is cool, the keyboard is something im really looking forward to because then i dont have to use the stupid on screen one....btw, the pictures show a white one, are they going to have black for the elite?, i wonder.....but this update looks like its going to be a good one, oh btw, any AIM support soon? haha(jk)

  • Captainintendo

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 11:45 am PT

    ""One step closer to becoming a PC"

    yup, but nothing wrong with that."

    Why not just buy a PC then?

  • leebec

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 8:54 am PT

    Awesome. Can't wait for the Messenger integration. That will be sweet. Defo getting myself one of those nifty keyboard thingies....

  • Zoomer30

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 8:50 am PT

    My freking god. What is this obsession MS has with how big their controllers are? Looks bigger then the 1st Xbox controller and you had to have huge hands to hold that right.

  • xphoenixtheory

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 4:59 am PT

    its not the finished product who knows wat thell change it to

  • Selfdestruct9

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 2:50 am PT

    Theres so many haters on these boards, if you think that Microsoft is 'copying' any other console then blame mostly every console that existed since Nintendo's super Nintendo, which also had a wireless controller, yes that includes Sony and their late adding of 'Sh*taxes'

  • RazMasters

    Posted Apr 16, 2007 9:06 pm PT

    "That's from an old Sony design."

    Really? I didn't know that Sony owned Sammy.

    Oh wait, they don't.

    I also didn't know that Sony invented the first miniature keyboard.

    Oh wait, they didn't.

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