Microsoft announced today the upcoming release of its New Xbox Experience (NXE) designed to take the company’s offer to the next level. Since its launch in 2005 there have been only small updates to the Xbox 360’s operating system and its Xbox LIVE online portal.

The new plan demanded that the text-heavy drop-menus be taken out and replaced with a new graphics-laden GUI that provides users with many new features and options. Customers will be able to freely customize their 360, actually turning it into a multimedia hub and stepping away from its initial gaming device function.

In order to gain access to NXE, users will have to subscribe to Xbox LIVE and download the free update. The installation process demands only a few minutes and once the system is rebooted, all the new content will be available. Once everything is set, users will have to choose their avatars, in order to have a proper representation in the Xbox LIVE community. The complex new avatars are designed by Rare Studios Inc. and make the process extremely entertaining.

NXE’s features include Parties, which are gatherings of friends where they can play games or share photos uploaded from a PC or a USB drive.

The company is also planning new avatar features, based on each user’s achievements. "Our vision for these in the future is well and truly tied to game releases, and us working with publishers very closely to encourage rewards from those games to be tied to your Avatar," said Xbox Live product manager Robin Burrowes.

The release date is November 19 and everyone is looking forward to see Microsoft’s latest work.