Report: NXE loses Xbox Live Primetime

Forbes claims Microsoft's community game show channel will miss XBL dashboard overhaul's November 19 launch, arriving instead this spring.

Japan isn't exactly a Microsoft stronghold, but the publisher used the Tokyo Game Show's world stage earlier this month to confirm that the New Xbox Experience would arrive November 19. Now that the heavily anticipated Xbox Live dashboard overhaul has been dated, the publisher has apparently been forced to back-burner a growing list of promised features.

The latest item to be dropped from NXE's November launch window is Xbox Live Primetime, reports Forbes. Citing unnamed Microsoft managers, the financial news magazine said the delay was necessary in order to ensure a smooth launch for the rest of the dashboard overhaul, and the feature is now expected to arrive sometime this spring. Microsoft had not responded to this report as of press time.

Revealed alongside many of the other features to be included in the update during the publisher's E3 2008 press conference, Xbox Live Primetime lets gamers' newly created avatars compete with other players in a variety of game shows. At the time of its announcement, Microsoft said one of the first game shows on offer would be a take on NBC's Bob Saget-hosted 1 vs. 100. According to Microsoft, the XBL edition would regularly feature live hosts and contests.

The delay of Xbox Live Primetime follows on from last week's delay of movie-sharing from NXE's set list. Another feature announced at Microsoft's E3 2008 press conference, movie-sharing was taken off the table last week when Xbox senior strategist Rob Gruhl said to MTV, "If we wanted to do movie sharing, build an app, party enable it, drop it in. Really, it’s [the new dashboard] just laying the foundation for our next wave, our next step. Continuing to fill it out, continuing to build it."

Clarifying Gruhl's statement, a Microsoft representative later told GameSpot that movie sharing won't make it into the upcoming dashboard overhaul, but will be one of "a lot more exciting features" coming soon.

129 Comments

  • Fool619

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 2:29 pm PT

    this looks cool, but the only thing i wish they would do is lower the gold price to like 3 or 4$ a month if they did that it would be awesome

  • join993

    Posted Nov 1, 2008 6:44 am PT

    Would this update be free? I believe some site said it would have a price tag. Though it looks great and all! And hopefully these features will make it in a patch later.

  • mankeyador

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 12:45 pm PT

    I can wait til spring for this. at least it's not like Home where they have to delay the whole thing til god know's when.

  • intoblivion

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 12:21 pm PT

    Thats actully a good thing because if primetime sucked then people would say the whole update sucked but now its being released later people may not flame the update

  • razgriz_101

    Posted Oct 24, 2008 12:44 am PT

    all i can say to the complainers good things come to those who wait,Also if its delayed till spring whats the huge problem you can always get your friends over and play something like Sceneit or buzz.Same with the movie sharing rent a movie and get your friends over.

    To me its just encouraging you to deal with your life online.Although it does look pretty unique.

  • enteyager25

    Posted Oct 23, 2008 11:00 am PT

    I have to agree with Hvac0120 in a big way. For those of us that just can't play as often as we sometimes would like, because of high demand jobs and other inconvenient things such as life, gold is very unappealing. I myself was looking forward to two things in the xbe, netflix and primetime. Both would actually make me consider gold. But not just for one. Hopefully its just bogus, it would be a refreshing casual experience from time to time to aid in breaking the occasional monotany. But something just tells me it sounds to good to not be true.

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Oct 23, 2008 9:15 am PT

    PrimeTime was one of my most anticipated features. The movie sharing is very "meh" to me. What is the need to watch a movie with friends over the internet?

    Of course, if PrimeTime is a Gold members only feature, then it doesn't matter to me anyway.

    Microsoft still hasn't come up with anything that is going to make me renew an XBL Gold membership with them.

    I think that is one of Microsoft's weakest points. All the hardcore online gamers who play Halo 3 for 50 hours a week get their money's worth. On the other hand a lot of gaming parents and business people don't have the time to commit to some of these online games and we get maybe 1-2 hours of only play every couple weeks. In this case, we do not get our money's worth.

    And no it's not "only $5 a month." It's $8 a month, $20 every 3 months, or $50 a year. It's not worth the money for someone in my position.

    There are tons of online games that I would like to play and have played when I had Gold. But if I'm only getting a few hours in a month, then it's better for me to just game alone or with people in person.

    Microsoft needs to re-evaluate the Gold subscription and cater to the non-50-hour-per-week online gamers.

  • georgeorjose

    Posted Oct 23, 2008 8:25 am PT

    what the hell is x box live primetime?? is dieon sanders going to play or what??

  • matty_sen

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 6:15 pm PT

    this really really pisses me off, i was so looking forward to the NXE, prime time sounded awesome and we don't have the movie streaming!!! arrhh!!! what have i waited 3 months for? a new layout and some s***** avatars!!!

  • mbchfdh2

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 4:51 pm PT

    Thanks to some of you for the positive feedback. And I'm surprised my previous post hasn't been canned by the mods, as yet...!

    grimskunkMGS4 - exactly; it's ALL about the games. And I'm lucky that I've been able to afford all of the consoles, because it means I can enjoy whatever comes out, no matter what it is (apart from high-end PC stuff... my laptop sucks).

    I neglected to properly mention the Wii in my last post. I should redress that:

    I don't own many Wii games, but Wii Baseball is simply FABULOUS when you get a few friends over for beers - it's far, far too funny watching your drunk friend ducking to swing at a splitter and falling on his face...

    ... because that's really what gaming's all about - FUN. And I think anyone with a 360 or a PS3 is well-equipped for fun. They're both great consoles. And I think a silent majority of the gaming community understands that. Fanboys make a lot of noise, but they don't speak for everyone.

  • grimskunkMGS4

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 4:03 pm PT

    mbchfdh2 all i have to say is your a person just like me you play the games for the games and not for a console, dude people like you deserves a medal

  • grimskunkMGS4

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 3:58 pm PT

    why do all you x bots fanboys talk about the delay of home is that a way for you to make you feel better bashing sony. get lives people

    posted this here and has been deleted what wrong x bots fanboys dont like my messagess, i own a 360 and a ps3, if you cant except the fact that microsoft is just as bad as sony dont bash anyone but yourselves.
    now last thing i have to say is you shoulndt talk about sony if you cant even point the finger at microsoft for delaying also and this is a forum to talk about the delay of "Report: NXE loses Xbox Live Primetime"

    and if you dont aggree to what i say who cares, my oppinion stands just as much as anyone else

  • ocdog45

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 1:51 pm PT

    ha ha

  • majindustin

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 1:37 pm PT

    I'm not mad, just disappointed, I mean if it was supposed to be released on Nov. 19th, it should be pretty close to being finished, why would it be delayed several months?

  • randomkilla85

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 1:26 pm PT

    Does not matter anyway Playstation Home was gonna kik its but in the first place. As a matter of fact i believe it was pushed back cuz they were scared no1 wud b interested. Be aware gamers there is a shark looking to find its next prey and its name is Microsoft

  • jayme22

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 1:20 pm PT

    so what they are trying to say is that we will have our cool avatars but we are not going to have any use of them till spring. I say BOGUS but this still could be a possibility

  • KBABZ

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 1:07 pm PT

    Well it's good to see that they're concentrating their efforts on the features people actually CARE about.

  • IronPhalanX6

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 12:35 pm PT

    why not just delay the whole thing.... nobody wants it anyway

  • ctg867

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 12:31 pm PT

    If something bad looses part of the thing that makes it bad, then what does it make that thing as a whole? Less crappy? I think that pretty much sums up the effect of this news.

  • XXMadManVII

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 11:58 am PT

    Meh, no big deal for me. I can wait for that feature. As long as they still support streaming Netflix I'll be fine.

  • hannify

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 11:29 am PT

    rubbiissh!

    This is all i wanted to see.

    Microsoft dont turn onto a sony on me like they did with home or i'll be selling my xbox on ebay

  • darkride66

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 11:10 am PT

    @ mbchfdh2. Well said!

  • godzillab10

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 11:09 am PT

    its good that Microsoft is trying to fix the mistake before they release it. they couldve just rushed it like they did their console and just let us loose into certain doom like the Red-Ring debacle. It's good to see microsoft trying to please the consumer for once. They still need to work on that vista though.

  • KingOfOldSkool

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 10:09 am PT

    Good post mbchfdh2.. I will admit Live is a little more functional than PSN, but that isn't saying much since BOTH networks leave alot to be desired.. subsequently making all these network updates necessary. Touching on your main point though.. I agree that the main problem with alot of fanboys in all console camps have is how uneven they are with there critiques. Regardless of how much I agree or disagree with an argument what matters most is whether or not the person I'm speaking with has a credible way of going about their argument. It really does make such arguments more worthwhile to discuss if they are more maturely handled. @TalonComics - Sadly, many gamers simply lack the patience and scope to look at things that way.. so many people whine about wanting new features in their systems and games but complain about proper development times.. and barely appreciate those same features when do actually come around.

  • Lelio316

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 10:01 am PT

    @thegame1980
    I find it interesting that you claim to have convinced some one to not buy a PS3 (your blog) but still claim have your own.

  • Hunter47

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 9:49 am PT

    I agree with TalonComics. I rather have something that works compared to code that crashes your Xbox every five minutes.

  • TalonComics

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 8:41 am PT

    Honestly, how can anyone be surprised by release delays? I would much rather have a functioning dashboard over rushed code.

  • jolymoly

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 8:18 am PT

    k

  • mbchfdh2

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 8:13 am PT

    thegame1980 - I own a 360 and a PS3 (a Wii, as well). You, on the other hand, do not.

    No, really. Please, stop pretending. Please don't insult everyone's intelligence, because you clearly don't - it's so embarrassingly obvious that, if I started to point out what you'd done that gave you away, this post would be even longer than it is already.

    In a nutshell: if you DID own a PS3, you'd know and be willing to admit that it's a very powerful machine with certain unique capabilities, rather than simply gabbing-off the kind of opinions you can form from looking at gaming websites and insulting every way in which the PS3 differs from the 360.

    If you think partially installing games to a hard drive is "stupid, annoying and downright retarded", you're on your own. Microsoft think it's a great idea, which is why they'll be including that feature in NXE (which you're apparently looking forward to... odd, that). And I look forward to it. Because it DOES cut loading times - yes, it does. And if you think it doesn't, again, you're on your own.

    LIVE is significantly better than PSN. Of course it is. Nobody with half a brain could disagree with that. But it's also been around for four years longer than PSN, and I'm sure the PlayStation online service will improve. I took part in the Xbox LIVE beta back in 2002, and it was rubbish by modern standards.

    As for software, I find Gears of War boring. I bought it on budget a couple of months ago, and I've hardly played it. Largely because I got readdicted to Halo 3, but also because it didn't capture my imagination. So, I'm not interested in Gears of War 2.

    As for MGS4, again, I'm not convinced. It's good, but I can't agree with reviews that award it ten out of ten. When I was younger I bought into the whole 'interactive movie' idea, but now, I'd rather play a game that's a GAME, rather than a game pretending to be a film.

    Looking into the future, I really hope that Fable 2 is as good as it looks. I'm slightly concerned, though - already we're being told that certain features won't be available at the date of release... but I'm not panicking yet.

    And I'm really looking forward to playing Little Big Planet - though I'll rent it before I buy it, just in case I can't be bothered with the level design elements, and I find the single player game too short.

    D'you see what I did there, thegame1980...? I gave detailed, even-handed comments on both the PS3 AND the Xbox 360. Next time you pretend to own a PS3, bear these things in mind. It'll make you SO much more convincing...

    ... oh, and by the way... Blu-ray is great; if you can't afford it, fine, but that's YOUR problem. Get a better job. Those of us who CAN afford it are very happy with it.

    No doubt Gamespot mods won't like this post very much, and I'll probably get a short ban... but people who try to deceive and undermine the spirit of the community deserve a spanking. Hope you enjoyed it.

  • jazilla

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 8:04 am PT

    the only thing i wish is that this stuff would start coming out when they say it is coming out. Otherwise, don't even give me a release date. Just release it and then I can be pleasantly surprised as opposed to be ticked off that you didn't release what you said you were going to release on the date you said it was coming out. That day is going to come and go without the content being on there.

  • darkride66

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 8:02 am PT

    @ xxxkinkykevxxx. I don't think there's anything wrong with MS borrowing the Mii idea. People like Mii's. That's how business works - you see something successful, sure it's nice to come up with something orginial to be successful - but you don't have to. Spiderman came out, took it's source material somewhat seriously and was a huge hit. Since then everyone has jumped on that bandwagon to various degrees of success. Original ideas are fine and good but more of the same - when it's a good thing to start with is also good.

    And everyone's just copying the Atari 2600 anyway.

  • xxxkinkykevxxx

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 7:52 am PT

    the new luk xbox is just copying everything, i own all three (wii, ps3, 360). its copying xmb and wii avatar system but i will be fair there trying to take it that little bit more futher but it doesnt escape the fact of they copied, there running out of origanal ideas to rob ur money thats all it is.

  • djdevil_911

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 7:52 am PT

    is this update coming on future game discs like previous updates, 'coz i don't have xbox live . anyway for all of us xbox 360, ps3, or (r they here?) nintendo people (or fans, whatever u like to call urselves), please stop bashing other consoles. i know home got delayed but wasn't that to bring the whole package at once or make it better? ms and sony just took different approaches: home is coming completely ready (hopefully), so they delayed it. ms is delivering some of the features on time at the expense of some left-out features that will come later. nintendo... well the miis were ready as soon as the console shipped. and btw, shouldn't we be happy the companies r taking each others ideas. who knows, maybe in the future they'll band up and make one super console, the wiistationbox (any other ideas for names r welcome) lol.

  • KingOfOldSkool

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 7:40 am PT

    Yeah.. good to see you graduated to triple posting now Game. Anyways, as far as the delay, things happen.. better to take a little longer releasing high profile products while fixing problematic issues beforehand. I suppose this newly discovered method would have been more useful 3 years ago when M$ seemed alright with rushing unfinished and unreliable garbage to the market..

  • darkride66

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 7:20 am PT

    I still really looking forward to the fall update. I didn't even know about this - so the delay really doesn't effect me! The only problem I have right now is I don't move into my new house until the weekend so my copy of Fable 2 is sadly sitting in my office at work.

    Just as a side note - this is a 360 news article, right? Why are so many people just sitting around - patting themselves on the back because they're not PS3 owners? Why do any of you care about the PS3, just enjoy your 360...it's a great system. And to thegame1980 - you aren't getting modded because Gamespot is pro Sony - you being modded for other reasons obvious to everyone reading your insane - hyper-anti-Sony rants. When you go out of your way to poke a console owners group in the eye every change you get, that's called trolling. I suggest you have a read through the Conditions on this site.

  • thegame1980

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 6:37 am PT

    @mynamesdenvrmax

    By the time Sony launchs "Home" most of these 13 year old PS3 fanboys will own their VERY own REAL home.

  • ThAdEa82

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 6:33 am PT

    They hype it up and don't deliver...it is sounding all too familiar in the video game industry. On the other hand, they are trying to set the bar high with several things to be done with the dash.

  • thegame1980

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 6:21 am PT

    BRAVO mynamesdenvrmax!

    BRAVO! (slow clap)

  • Avenger1324

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 6:01 am PT

    Given the tie-in with Netflix, the loss of movie-sharing is no big deal for anyone not in the US.

    I would much rather have the same content across all regions of Live

  • mynamesdenvrmax

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 5:43 am PT

    @grimskunkMGS4

    I only mention Home because its...well, true. Its been delayed too many times. Its just sad, it feels like Sony doesnt have things together this time around. And yes, I own a PS3. I doubt that will make any difference to you all, i'll still be a fanboy since I even mentioned Sony and didnt include "I LOVE SONY!" with its name.

    Of course I do prefer my Xbox, IMO its got the best selection of games, I actually know when things are coming for it, I like Xbox Live better than PSN.

  • zgreenwell

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 5:34 am PT

    I'm really only looking forward to the updated UI. It feels like the current interface takes forever to load all my arcade games. If this new one makes that easier then I'll be happy.

  • ChaosXeno

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 5:29 am PT

    lol tawagivercetti what good games can you be talking about in the last two months the 360 0hasn't released a AAA title yet while the PS3 has two LBP (as much as you fanbots hate its a AAA title) and Bioshock ( even tho its a year late the ps3 has received two so far. And the 360 count is at 0. The only one Im waiting for on the 360 is Banjo now.

  • kugliim

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 4:36 am PT

    Here here. I'm with all the liberal minded 360 owners out there. This is progress and it'll be a nice new change. It does copy a few ideas from other platforms but that's good. MS have seen what Nintendo and Sony have done and been inspired to create something of their own. Lets face it, the other to have done similar with their systems (trophies, XMB access and music mid game).

    I also echo Grimskunk's comments too. Lets hope it goes well and runs smoothly. The last thing we all want is to get a free dvd from MS to install the OP manually ourselves... lol (with gritted teeth)

  • tidyspidey

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 4:03 am PT

    let me guess division 9 - you have a PS3? bloody fanboys... GoW is plainly, obviously not crap, otherwise why would so many people buy it and play it? why don't you save up for a 360 AND a PS3, then you can enjoy all games? Hell, buy a Wii while you're at it too - extend your sights further than just one console... after all, it's games that matter, not the companies that make what console.

  • Antaeus1991

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 4:03 am PT

    @Division_9 - How can you say everything is rushed on the xbox? Do you have proof? Any articles or evidence relating to that claim would be much appreciated. And before you call me an xbox fanboy I have all the current gen consoles and like them all, fanboys like you should be banned from sites like this.

  • Ripper_TV

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 4:01 am PT

    "a lot more exciting features" coming soon"
    Yeah-yeah-yeah, how many times more are we gonna swallow it?

  • division_9 posted Oct 22, 2008 3:15 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    division_9

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 3:15 am PT (hide)

    Gears of wars is utter crap. The second one will be the same but with a new story and a lower failure rate. Besides, everything's rushed on the Xbox, that's why they always meet there deadlines.

  • heavymetalzplin

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 2:53 am PT

    Doesn't bother me as long as it will come out at some point in time.

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