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Microsoft’s new Xbox Live avatars detailed in leaked video

Microsoft’s new Xbox Live avatars detailed in leaked video

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Microsoft has been working on its new Xbox Live avatars for at least a year, and a newly leaked video provides a much closer look at the refreshed system. Forum users at ResetEra discovered that a former Microsoft designer uploaded a video to YouTube (now removed) showing how the new Xbox Avatar Editor works. The new avatars will let you fully customize your online character with new body type options, clothing, and props. Microsoft’s editor will run across both Xbox One and Windows 10.

Microsoft is offering a variety of diverse options for avatar customization, and the company’s original E3 trailer promised options for amputees, playful costumes, wheelchairs, skateboards, and motorbikes. The Xbox Avatar Editor itself lets you customize body, face, hair, makeup, limbs, and even fingernails. All the options include color pickers, and the ability to buy additional items from an avatar store. Microsoft won’t be supporting items from existing avatars, as the company has built this new avatar system in the Unity engine. You will be able to import your existing avatar into the new system, though.

Microsoft is planning to integrate its Xbox Live avatars directly into the Xbox One dashboard, and launch a separate store open to third-party developers. The software maker is now planning to preview these avatars to testers this month, after hitting several delays. The new avatars were originally planned for release last fall, but Microsoft delayed the launch to improve the system.