Xbox Live general manager Marc Whitten made the announcement at the NewTeeVee Live conference on Thursday, according to a company spokesman.

Users will be able to update their Facebook status or send and read Twitter tweets directly from the Xbox Live interface, the company said. Last.fm stations will also be available, complete with gamer-specific stations, Microosft said. Microsoft will also enable Zune Video on the Xbox 360 interface, with up to 1080p video available instantly. A "News and More" section will add content from MSNBC, The New Yorker, and the cartoon "Dilbert".

"We're delivering some truly exciting social entertainment experiences to our members," Whitten said in a statement. "Xbox Live's differentiator has always been our community, and we've already seen a tremendous response to these features in our public preview. It's the community that drives us forward and allows us to pioneer new ways of connecting people through the entertainment they love."

Users need to have an Xbox Gold account. For those that don't, however, beginning on November 20 at 9 PM PT, Xbox Live Silver members can enjoy a free upgrade until the end of the on Nov. 23.