Xbox Gaming in South Africa

As expected, the new Xbox.com update has gone live, adding a new Social hub styled in what Microsoft is calling the Metro look, and bringing with it new social features such as Beacons (a way to alert friends of games you want to play), a Friends Activity stream and revamped Friends and Message center, along with an improved Video Marketplace (where available).

The update is available to all Xbox LIVE members, just head on over to Xbox.com to check it out (be sure to sign in).

Along with the Xbox.com update, Microsoft has started rolling out the new Xbox 360 dashboard to those who qualified for the Xbox LIVE Update Preview Program. The dashboard includes a new design with integrated Kinect voice and gesture controls, Beacons, Facebook Sharing, Cloud Storage for Game Saves and Xbox LIVE Profiles, and more. You can get the low down on everything that's new over here.

Not all the features will be available to beta testers at first, but are expected to come online during the course of the preview program.

Microsoft has yet to confirm when the new Xbox 360 dashboard will be available to everyone, but with a Holiday 2011 window, expect it by the end of December.

So, are you part of the Xbox LIVE Preview Program? What do you think of the new design and features? Let us know in the comments below!