Microsoft details Games on Demand, Avatar Marketplace

E3 2009: Over 30 games available at launch, including Mass Effect and Assassin's Creed; games re-downloadable for free on any machine, Halo, Fable, and Gears of War avatar costumes coming.

LOS ANGELES--On Monday, Microsoft announced a host of new Xbox Live services during its E3 2009 press conference. Today we had a chance to take a closer look at the most important changes coming to the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Soon avatars will get game-themed outfits from Fable and Gears of War.

As reported earlier this week, the Games on Demand feature will let Xbox 360 owners buy and download full games to their consoles using a credit or debit card, as well as Microsoft points. The service will launch with a library of more than 30 titles, including Mass Effect, BioShock, Assassin's Creed, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Today, Microsoft revealed it will be updating the Games on Demand store every week following launch, with prices "comparable" to retail. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga was the only one priced, though, at $19.99.

However, the best part of Games on Demand is that the games players download--around 6GBs per game--will remain playable on any machine that can log in to the account on which the purchase was made. If a 360 gets damaged or lost, players can re-download them again on any machine at any time free of charge. This also applies to Xbox 360 owners who find they don't have enough space on their machines--they will simply be able to delete the downloaded games and re-download them at another time, also free of charge.

Microsoft also went into more detail about the new Avatar Marketplace, which will let 360 owners purchase clothing and interactive props for their avatars. There is a whole range that has been specifically designed with game content, including Halo, Fable II, and Gears of War 2, as well as third-party content, such as Splinter Cell. Owners can purchase T-shirts and caps with logos, as well as props relating to the games--we were shown a remote control Warthog from the Halo games. Microsoft is also working with real clothing labels to design avatar outfits that fit fashion trends, such as steampunk or "street." The cost of these items is about 80 Microsoft points ($1) for a T-shirt and 320 points ($4) for an interactive prop.

Stay tuned for more Microsoft news and updates during GameSpot's ongoing coverage of the Electronic Entertainment Expo.

236 Comments

  • n8th8n

    Posted Jul 24, 2009 8:29 am PT

    At least i wont have to leave my house to pick up a classic anymore

  • Sagacious_Tien

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 12:30 pm PT

    Games on Demand sounds great, but this literally kills of the Xbox Originals program, doesn't it?

  • GaRdYbOy

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 1:42 pm PT

    Nice English ...

  • tomcrole

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 5:31 am PT

    what you guy dont seem to realise is microsft is a businces, there here to make money. so for all those who are leavin stupid comments micrsoft is not you frend who is doing this to make you happy there doing this to make MONEY

  • ztron370

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 12:14 pm PT

    games on demand sounds awesome!

  • batmanboy11

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 4:24 pm PT

    The games on demand sounds cool but I'd rather have a disc and the avatar thing is sweet (hopefully I can look like a Spartan II, ODST or Sam Fisher/ other Splinter Cells) but $1 for just one item and $4 for one prop ticks me off.

  • Aaron_Knuts1

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 8:09 am PT

    They should give all avatar outfits free to xbox LIVE gold customers or at least just $1 for a pack of clothes rather than just for one. Yah. I copy and pasted.

  • CheezeCrackerz

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 9:08 pm PT

    What!? I'm not gonna pay to put clothes on my avatar! They should have game-specific clothing become unlocked through the game's achievements! If they were smart and not greedy bastards that's what they would do!

  • Kiro92

    Posted Jun 20, 2009 9:11 am PT

    They should give all avatar outfits free to xbox LIVE gold customers or at least just $1 for a pack of clothes rather than just for one.

  • undelicious

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 10:52 pm PT

    Too bad 360 doesn't let you use externals like ps3 does. And believe me, I hate ps3. One major flaw that Microsoft just let slip away..

  • neutralbias

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 1:35 am PT

    The thing I don't like about buying games direct to hard drive is that when I'm done with it, I can't trade it in for store credit...can I delete my games for D/L credit please?

  • Fodpea

    Posted Jun 13, 2009 2:08 pm PT

    I will get a few avatar clothing for T-Shirts but i say props should be $2 or $3 not $4

  • causticjones7

    Posted Jun 13, 2009 10:28 am PT

    If you don't want Avatar clothes then don't buy them, should be an option to have naked avatars for those who wish to show there reluctance. Would make more sence if you could buy them with game points instead, so they were worth more than braggin' rights.

  • tommysport619

    Posted Jun 13, 2009 1:13 am PT

    need a bigger hard drive

  • cluelesspug

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 4:36 pm PT

    Gears clothes! I would be excited for the games on demand thing too, but considering that I only have 5GB left I won't be downloading any games.

  • firefrekypsycho

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 7:17 pm PT

    and if you live in the middle of no-where (like me) and can only get live at a friends house... u cant u ANY dlc

  • 4themob1

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 2:24 pm PT

    Are none of you guys aware that Sony charges for just about every piece of content for your avatar or home space in home? This isn't new. Frankly, I'm surprised that MS gives anything for the avatars away. The best way to voice your approval or dismay, however, is to buy or not buy said content.

  • SQUALL20XX

    Posted Jun 9, 2009 2:11 pm PT

    Not so important

  • mpeg3s

    Posted Jun 8, 2009 8:02 pm PT

    We need more hard drive space MS!

  • bigal1972

    Posted Jun 7, 2009 11:14 am PT

    money, money, money!!! what are ya'll at microsoft going to do next, charge us to turn our systems on?and by the way; downloading full games to you're hdd is a bad idea because of the amount of space some of us have. how about rental on demand? that way we could rent them before we decide to buy them. but other than that i love the 360!!!

GameSpot's E3 Photo Gallery

GameSpot's E3 2009 Photo Gallery

Latest E3 Highlights: X360

See more X360 highlights »