When the Xbox Live summer update hits 360's up and down the country next week, over 20 million Xbox gamers will finally see just what Microsoft has been up to since the Dashboard update a while back. The summer update will feature a host of new features which should have the majority of 360 owners drooling with anticipation in the run-up to release.

The update should be just right for film buffs the world over, as one major new feature is the ability to watch films straight from your 360 console, with hundreds to choose from and many in high-definition. So, if you've been undecided about whether or not to purchase an HD cable for your 360, now might be the right time to invest in one.

The avatar system will be overhauled in this update, with the release of the Avatar Marketplace. Similar to PlayStation Home's 'shopping centre', the Avatar Marketplace will allow users to purchase new clothes with which to doll up their avatars. There'll be content from top brands such as Adidas, Quiksilver, Roxy and Tokidoki, and unique fashions such as Steampunk, alongside content related to various Xbox360 titles (a nice bit of viral advertising added in there, Microsoft).

However, the biggest update to Live this summer probably comes in the form of Games on Demand, a new service which provides 360 users with the opportunity to purchase and download full games online, without the need for disks. The service will launch with twenty-one titles already available for download, including big hits such as Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed and EA's Burnout Paradise, to family favourites LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga and Meet The Robinsons.

The update should launch sometime in the next week, and anticipated features such as Twitter and Facebook integration and Last.fm functionality should come around Christmastime.

Linford

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