Microsoft’s Next-Gen Xbox Live Avatars Detailed in New Leak

Microsoft has been promising a major upgrade to Xbox Live avatars for roughly 2 years. After months of development and testing, the software giant is getting ready to launch the new, diverse Xbox Live avatars sometime this month in a preview. Ahead of the preview launch, though, a new leaked video of the Xbox Avatar Editor showed off the new avatars in all their glory. The leaked video, mistakenly posted by a former Microsoft designer, was first spotted by members on the ResetEra forum (via The Verge).

Microsoft has previously shown off the new, diverse Xbox Live avatars in teaser videos, but this is our first look at the app that will be used to bring these new avatars to life. Microsoft’s new avatars engine is built on Unity, and the new avatars are a lot more realistic and fun than ever before. The new avatars aren’t just about a rebuilt engine — in fact, the avatars are supposed to represent every Xbox owner, and so the company is going to introduce new props and customization options for amputees, as well as other props such as bikes, guitars, and more.

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Redmond will be launching a new store for avatars and all the props and customizations that will be available with the new Avatars. The next-gen Xbox Live avatars will be available on Xbox One and Windows 10, but it’s possible the firm could be planning to bring it to Mixed Reality with its interactive social VR platform. The software giant is busy putting finishing touches on the new Avatars for the time being, though it shouldn’t be too long before they are available to Xbox Insiders, and then the general public.

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Conversation 7 comments

  • dcdevito

    18 April, 2018 - 6:49 am

    <p>XBox Avatars: The OG Animoji…?</p>

  • My Hell baby speaking

    18 April, 2018 - 7:35 am

    <p>Hideous. But then, there isn't much quality content on XBOX to spend time with, so I guess, for owners of the box it at least is something to play with.</p>

    • Stooks

      18 April, 2018 - 2:28 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#263754"><em>In reply to My Hell baby speaking:</em></a></blockquote><p>98% of console games are multi-platform but yeah I see what you are saying there is not much on the Xbox to play.</p>

      • My Hell baby speaking

        18 April, 2018 - 4:09 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#263948"><em>In reply to Stooks:</em></a></blockquote><p>Exactly, so I sold it. </p><p>The other console has just too much rightly acclaimed titles to offer. </p><p>And since I don't feel any longing for stunners like Halo, Recore, Pirate Party or Scalebound, even less so anything made from the Ubisoft or EA formula, well…</p>

  • lancert

    18 April, 2018 - 9:54 am

    <p>As cool looking as these may be, does anyone still use avatars on XB1?</p>

    • FullyLoaded

      18 April, 2018 - 10:09 am

      <blockquote><a href="#263808"><em>In reply to lancert:</em></a></blockquote><p>My kids like customizing them. They will really like these enhancements.</p>

  • Breaker119

    Premium Member
    18 April, 2018 - 2:21 pm

    <p>Now if they'll only let me use my Kinect as the starting point for my new avatar. Oh wait…that's right – Kinect :(</p>

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