New Xbox 360 Features in Effect Wednesday

The Microsoft Xbox 360 console may suddenly find itself in higher demand starting Wednesday. That's because the New Xbox Experience interface is set to launch, featuring new menus, better-looking features and other new upgrades.

According to an Associated Press account, the Experience will also allow users to create their own avatar, and also to save and store games onto the console's hard drive, a first for the Xbox. Meanwhile, as the result of Microsoft's recent deal with Netflix, users with subscriptions to that service will be able to access their movie queue through the device.

That last feature, however, appeared to have hit a roadblock on the eve of the launch. The gaming blog Joystiq pointed out Tuesday that pictures from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and its various Hollywood subsidiaries, including Columbia Pictures, are listed as "Not available on Xbox." This is reportedly due to a licensing issue; Sony, of course, also produces the Xbox rival PlayStation 3 console.