Microsoft is launching a new dashboard for its Xbox console today: Kinect PlayFit. Described as a dashboard that tracks fitness activity on the Xbox, Kinect PlayFit will aggregate data from Dance Central 2, Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012, Kinect Star Wars, and others to provide personal fitness stats. We exclusively revealed Microsoft's plans to combine a "Joule" heart rate monitor with its Kinect PlayFit service earlier this year, but the company didn't offer any hint at the combination in its announcement today — despite the recent announcement of its Nike+ Kinect Training system.

The service will also let fitness fanatics earn Kinect PlayFit Achievements, Gamerscore and Avatar Awards, with leaderboards provided to track scores against other Xbox Live members. Kinect PlayFit is available as a free download for all Xbox Live members in the US today, and Microsoft says the service will launch outside the US "later this week."