Xbox Gaming in South Africa

Microsoft's Larry Hryb has announced that Xbox.com is set to go through one of those reality TV makeovers tomorrow, with the Xbox 360's home on the internet receiving a new look, new features, as well as tweaks to current functionality.

Some of the highlights of the new redesign are said to include:

• Browser based Avatar editor: Edit your avatar and preview avatar items before purchase
• Combined views for messages, friend and game requests
• Improved notification of your account subscription
• Leverage Family Reports to understand what your family is doing and how they are using LIVE
• Play web games with your Xbox LIVE friends on the web or on Windows Phone 7
• Marketplace: More powerful search and more intuitive ways to browse and filter

The changeover is expected to take place tomorrow, 20 October, at 9AM GMT (or 11AM South African time). Xbox.com and the Xbox.com forums will of course be offline during the changeover, which is expected to last for a "short period of time", at which point the new site will be accessible to everyone. Xbox LIVE won't be affected by the changeover.

The new redesign is also readying Xbox.com for the influx of new Xbox LIVE members, with South Africa representing one of the nine new countries launching local Xbox LIVE services on 10 November.

Check out a few screenshots of the upcoming redesign in the gallery below, and let us know what you think in the comments section:

[via MajorNelson.com]