Microsoft closes Xbox LIVE public preview program after just 24 hours

By Tom Warren, on 14th Oct 11 8:16 am with 8 Comments

New Xbox Dashboard

Microsoft announced on Thursday that it is no longer accepting registrations for its Xbox LIVE dashboard preview program.

The software giant began accepting nominations on Wednesday via its connect beta testing site. The Xbox LIVE public preview will give beta testers early access to Microsoft’s new Metro style dashboard. Microsoft closed its doors to new registrations on Thursday evening, just over 24 hours after the company announced its preview program. “We are sorry, but at this time we are no longer accepting registrations for the Public Preview Program as we have reached our target audience volume,” reads a message on the company’s connect testing site.

Microsoft’s Larry Hryb (Major Nelson) revealed that there will be additional opportunities to participate in Xbox LIVE update preview programs in the future. “For those of you that have successfully completed registration we will be reaching out to you once we are ready to take you through the next steps,” said Hryb in a blog post on Thursday. Microsoft is expected to deliver the update to testers within the next two weeks.

Codenamed “Madrid”, the November dashboard update will bring Microsoft’s Metro style interface to the Xbox. Microsoft is also preparing to include YouTube and Bing on the Xbox. Bing users will be able to use Kinect’s voice recognition feature to search for movies, music and other content on their consoles. Microsoft is also planning to include some type of Marketplace with applications for Xbox 360.

In other Xbox news, Microsoft announced on Thursday that the company continues to dominate U.S. console sales in 2011. The Xbox 360 outsold both the Wii and Sony PlayStation 3 in September with 438,000 units. Microsoft has held onto the top spot each month in 2011 and is expected to remain the top selling console in the U.S. throughout the holiday period.

Thanks to WinRumors reader Tyler for submitting a news tip

  • Doug Lemon

    I am a troll….

  • Jonathan

    Does this mean, if you have managed to register (I did), you will get the preview? Or are you then randomly selected to receive the preview?

    • http://twitter.com/ds2600 William Bunce

      In the past (and to me, the Major Nelson post reads like) if you registered, you’ll get the preview after you register your console ID, etc.

  • http://twitter.com/richfrombechtle Rich Gibbons

    Does that mean if you got accepted through the Connect site you’re definitely going to receive the beta? Or have they reached the target volume and will then go through and select x amount of those for participation?

    • http://www.callumpy.co.uk Callumpy

      I hope that we will all get in, but nobody knows :)

  • http://www.windowsobserver.com/ WinObs

    Jonathan – if you want to read into MN’s comment on his blog he said if you successfully completed registration we will be reachign out to you.  Seems they may be looking for volume at this point so the more the better.

  • Anonymous

    I’m glad that Tom posted it here. Otherwise, I would have missed out registering. 

  • Zikalify

    Got my fingers crossed for a rollout this weekend :D