Xbox Live is now back online, following scheduled maintenance work that may have taken a little longer than expected.

The work has been necessary in order to prepare for the New Experience, a system re-jig that claims will usher in the "ultimate social entertainment experience."

Once users log back in to Live, the update should download just like a normal system update and then reload the welcome page to reveal the new features.

The full 'New Experience' is expected in November, we hear.

By James Wallis