Microsoft has announced more perks for US Xbox Live players. They can now look forward to "Live Web", which lets them see which games their friends are playing, view stats and scoreboards and download content via a special website. Microsoft recently confirmed plans to debut "Live Now", its new Dashboard with Friends list and Voice Chat accessible from the Xbox interface (rather than just in-game, apparently).

Live Web also marks the introduction of XSN Sports, the service announced at E3 in May, which will gives players access to rankings, game stats and scoreboards for titles like NFL Fever 2004 (launching Stateside this month). We're told that to begin with, Live Web will also track results in Ghost Recon: Island Thunder.

Although it's not clear when Live Web is due to launch in the UK and Europe, if Island Thunder will also be the first game here, then we can expect something to happen around October 3rd when the game is scheduled for release.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is also offering US buyers of NFL Fever 2004 two months of free Xbox Live access, with all the benefits of having stumped up for a Live Starter Kit including Gamertag, the Live Now features and of course Live Web.

Live Web is due to launch on August 25th, but while yesterday the Live Now website promised an August 25th launch, now it appears to have been pegged back to mid-September.

© gamesindustry.biz