Xbox Live was considered a bit of a risk when Microsoft first proposed it for their original Xbox game console. Would players balk at playing a monthly fee for access to online content? Yet the service did so well that it became a key part of Microsoft's console strategy, and prompted competitors like Sony to rush like mad to provide an equivalent service. Now, with the launch of the PlayStation 3 and Wii just a few weeks away, Xbox 360 gamers are in anticipation of a major update to Xbox Live, scheduled for some time in November.

Microsoft has bundled many changes into this update. The Xbox Live Arcade interface has been streamlined and allows for easier management of downloaded Live Arcade titles, including an auto-download option that automatically adds new game demos to the active download list when you enter Xbox Live Arcade. Xbox Live Marketplace has a new and slightly spiffier interface, and Microsoft has added a "Media and Entertainment" tab to its list of purchasable options. The memory card and hard drive management interface has also received an overhaul.

Ars Technica