The Xbox 360’s avatar-based dashboard update - the New Xbox Experience - has been leaked onto various torrent sites just a few weeks ahead of the official launch. Naughty naughty…

There’s very little point in availing yourself of this unprecedented and entirely unofficial opportunity to sample NXE, though. As Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson has it the New Xbox Experience isn’t even fully finished yet: “…we’re still just buttoning up all those loose ends, making sure everything works just right.” he says, also promising that everything will be complete and working come the scheduled launch on Nov 19th.

But there’s an even more compelling reason not to jump the gun, since doing so will earn you a ban from Xbox LIVE - and there’s really not much point in having the New Xbox Experience if you can’t enjoy its online components. "…if you get your hands on NXE and you are NOT in the Preview Program. You won't be allowed on LIVE," says the Major, darkly.

And that’s that!