Since no previous console had leaned so heavily into the online side of things, a complete system software refresh was something that hadn’t been done before… not to this level, at least. NXE gave the 360 that same kind of new console excitement without owners having to do anything more than download an update on their existing consoles that fall, allowing for players to connect with one another in new ways, many of which we actually take for granted today. Microsoft knew that if it wanted to maximise uptake, it would once again have to put its money where its mouth was, and it did just that. Since the Xbox 360 launched with a Core model with no storage, owners of those old boxes (assuming three little red lights hadn’t come calling already) would have no way to download or install an update like this, so MS rolled out a new plan. Any 360 owner without a storage solution could register to receive a free 512MB memory unit, or opt to upgrade to a refurbished 20GB hard drive for a small fee, meaning this console update would be available to everybody. When social gaming is at the heart of your product, that’s a pretty important message to send.
So what did NXE actually add? First up, let’s look at Avatars. These 3D caricatures were Rare’s baby, and while a lot of fans of the team thought that Microsoft was squandering the studio’s talent on what was little more than an Xbox version of Nintendo’s Mii characters, there’s a lot to be said for what Rare managed to achieve with the system. One of the chief draws of Rare’s output was just how much character they could cram into their games, whether that came from subtle animations and effects that oozed personality or just slapping googly eyes on everything and somehow making you care about a potty-mouthed paintbrush. The former was what made Avatars work — bespoke animations for little things like how they checked themselves out when you changed their clothes or chilled out on the dashboard while you were idle were genuinely endearing. Given that this whole system could be viewed through cynical eyes as a straight-up cash grab to fleece users of their Microsoft Points (which were still a thing back then) for pretend dress-up items, this level of quality was essential, not to mention the fact that just like on the Wii, Avatars could also be used in quite a few games, so they had to be top-notch or this would have all fallen apart. Better yet, this would be a rare example of achievements getting value beyond just their Gamerscore, with Avatar Awards offering new gear for your little digital alter ego by completing in-game tasks, quite a few of which were tied to specific achievements. I will cherish my little pet Meat Boy always.
One of the biggest additions by modern standards — to the point that it today almost feels like a system that has always existed — was the Live Party option, where you could drop into a lobby with up to seven friends and just enjoy Xbox life together. Chat, share photos, play together… whatever you wanted to do, you were able to hop between activities seamlessly without needing to part ways and while this feels like something we expect from modern systems, it was pioneered here in the New Xbox Experience. It’s such a simple thing, but this is arguably the biggest feature NXE added, in hindsight. Good ol’ Nintendo is still so far behind the times in this regard, bless ’em, that Switch party chat is only possible through an external mobile app, but everywhere else, this is the modern standard, whether through system-level tools on Xbox and PlayStation or via catch-all solutions like Discord. It was just one of those Really Good Ideas that don’t come around in console UI design all that often, as evidenced by the lack of anything really new in the Series X|S interface and the weak new features offered by PS5, some of which seem cool on paper but in reality, they’re simply either not that useful or not supported well enough to make them something to shout about. Parties, though? Absolute gamechanger.
Low-key, one of the best additions of the NXE was the Primetime channel, and while I distinctly remember groaning at the E3 announcement at the time, the many, many hours I put into 1 vs 100 don’t lie. The simulated game show action was revelatory — effectively an MMO quiz game where you could randomly be picked from the thousands of players who turned up for the scheduled broadcasts to play a starring role, with the chance to win some pretty decent real-world prizes. I and many others tuned in regularly, and while it was a little sketchy in its implementation (live host audio often wouldn’t work, leading to weird dead air from the gesticulating Avatar host), it was an incredible and unique experience that I’m genuinely surprised hasn’t been brought back. And again, the chosen few on each episode would see Rare’s sterling work in Avatar characterisation here, with our virtual selves agonising over answers and celebrating successes in a natural and entertaining way befitting of the format. Microsoft made a big deal at E3 ’08 about the partnership with Endemol that allowed for this to happen, but sadly, it didn’t lead much further. 1 vs 100 was really the only major thing of its kind to grace the Primetime channel. Still, with or without the license, I’d love to see something similar return to Xbox in the future, and I’m fairly confident I’m not alone in that wish.
Yes, some folks were sad to lose their beloved blades (although these were kinda kept alive in some form in the Guide button menu), but that’s the price of progress. Tomorrow, there won’t be a Guide button in sight as we ditch controllers altogether for a hands-free gaming experience that went a lot better than expected, at least from a commercial standpoint. But for now, how did you feel about the New Xbox Experience? What was your favourite part? Anything I missed from the first major Xbox system update? Use your words below!
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