One of the great (and unique) features of Windows Phone 7 is its Xbox Live integration. The Games Hub and its Live Tile even show your personal Xbox Live avatar. Previously, you could only customize your avatar using an Xbox 360 console. Well, now with Windows Phone 7, there’s an Xbox Live Extras free download that upgrades the Games Hub to support avatar editing on your phone!
You’ve seen a demo of this before. After you install the free “Xbox LIVE Extras” app, your Games Hub is upgraded with a more comprehensive 3D interface for customizing your Xbox Live avatar. This is a must-have download and you’ll likely easily find it in the games section of the Marketplace. You can customize your body shape, eyes, eyebrows, hair style, outfit, shoes, ear rings, … practically everything right there on the phone.
But wait, there’s more! If you don’t have a Windows Phone 7 yet, but still want to make yourself a fun avatar, you can also sign up for the free Xbox Live account with your Live ID, and now there’s a web-based Xbox Live Avatar customizer, too! You’ll want to use the same Live ID that you use for existing Zune Pass accounts, and if you already have an Xbox Live gamer account, now you can edit your avatar from the web.
Even if you do have a Windows Phone 7 already, you may want to customize your avatar from the web interface once in a while as well, since you cannot purchase new items or props for your avatar to use in Xbox Live from the phone. If you purchase props or other avatar custom items, don’t worry, they will definitely still show up on your Windows Phone 7.
So go get yourself a fun Xbox Live avatar on the web, and when you log into your new Windows Phone 7 with your Live ID, it will be super cool to see it show up in the games hub while you’re still in the store.
Are you ready to go with Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7?
Originally published on Pocketnow on October 24, 2010.