Kotaku have an interesting image up that likely confirms a rumour Microsoft are shifting from GamerPics for your Xbox Live profile to animated Mii-like avatars.

The image also has some 'official' text (be weary young traveler) that implies the new avatars will be fully animated, customisable and will help you "reflect who you are online".

With Sony rolling out Home later this year, and the success of the Wii and its Mii system, Microsoft's move makes sense. Hopefully, like most Wii titles, you'll also be able to see your Xbox Avatar popping up in 360 games (my guess is it will more likely be XBLA titles). As per usual, we'll fill you in when we know more.

so what about all the avatars purchased with m$ points? do they just become redundant now and were a waste of money?

hopefully this will be something they look at closely, and offer Gold users for free or the like. It would make sense to have a free sign up period in the early goings, and then they can start charging later down the track. But this is microsoft we're talking about

They always were a waste.

as opposed to their once former status as a solid investments?

so what about all the avatars purchased with m$ points? do they just become redundant now and were a waste of money?

Pretty sure they were always a waste of money.

Pretty sure they were always a waste of money.

I reckon... +1

uh, sorry, I came in late - you have to pay for avatars on XBL?

THIS GIVES ME AN IDEA

is the idea to create crappy downloadable content that console jockeys will pay for and we will make millions?$#*#(

is the idea to create crappy downloadable content that console jockeys will pay for and we will make millions?$#*#(

sign domino the f*** up

I'LL TAKE TWO.

I spend hours dressing up my in-game Ninja in Tenchu X with the gold i receive from various stealth missions FYI

uh, sorry, I came in late - you have to pay for avatars on XBL?

Sort of. You CAN buy avatars if you want. There are stacks of free ones. Especially if you sign up with Euro/US/Japan accounts. The US gets a lot of free content you don't see here.

The US gets a lot of free content you don't see here

Does anyone else get offended by this regional discrimination?

Hey, you are willing to pay twice as much for the same game, why would you then get upset about not getting some add on free?

as long as there's a hello kitty avatar I'm set.

the avatars are dumb, and I really don't like the new look for the dashboard either. :( i want to keep what i have

bah star, don't be afraid of change!

i think all this new stuff will be good. i just hope it hits sooner rather than later.

I think the new dashboard looks awesome

Major Nelson has some screenshots of what the new skinned version might look like too

the avatars are dumb, and I really don't like the new look for the dashboard either. :( i want to keep what i have

Yeah...looks kind of PS3 like from what I've seen...what about people who bought dashboards?

people who bought dashboard skins will still be able to have them work in the new dsahboard, infact they look pretty awesome already.