Microsoft has released its latest seasonal patch for the Xbox 360. This spring update expands the communications reach of the console, introducing Windows Live Messenger to the mix.

The Live Messenger feature will allow both voice and text chat across multiple platforms. Now, friends can communicate with each other between the Xbox 360, PCs and mobile devices. It includes cross-platform gaming between Windows Vista and Xbox Live.

The Xbox 360 will now feature improved family settings - including those specific to the new messaging features, a new Xbox Live Marketplace blade is the interface and progressive downloading that allows media content to be watched as it continues to download. The achievement system is also being updated so that achievement names and scores appear on-screen as they are unlocked.