Microsoft has announced that all those who successfully signed up to the New Xbox Experience preview program will be able to download the service over the next few hours.

The firm’s NXE service launches worldwide tomorrow, and brings with it a host of new upgrades for the console that are designed to be better equipped for the rapid expansion Xbox Live has enjoyed since the Xbox 360 launch.

As well as an Apple-style interface, users will be able to create personal avatars that are associated with their gamer profiles.

Furthermore, gamers will also be able to install games to their hard drive, a process that both speeds loading times and allows for a quieter gaming experience.

Other upgrades include improved resolution support for those using monitors, and interoperability with the new PC-based Xbox Live Marketplace.

From tomorrow, everyone who logs into Xbox Live will be prompted to download NXE for free. Those without an internet connection will have the option of either burning the update to CD from a PC or upgrading the next time they buy a game which contains the new firmware.