The software giant Microsoft’s Xbox Live service and Zune service went offline yesterday for scheduled maintenance for next 24 hours. It means that the Xbox Live and My Xbox section of Xbox.com, and Zune Social, the forums on Zune.net, and the Zune Marketplace are unavailable from 7:01am UTC (4:30 pm in India), 16 June.

Since the services went offline, the Xbox.com has been displaying the messages – "This service maintenance is to prepare for some of the recently announced features that will be available later this year."

Microsoft is reportedly undergoing scheduled maintenance in order to make way for the future online service enhancements including Twitter, Facebook, and digital downloads of full Xbox 360 games.

However, the Director of programming for Xbox Live gaming network, Larry Hryb, also known as Major Nelson, in his blog, wrote that nothing new will appear when Xbox Live goes online after maintenance.  

Presently, the Xbox.com forums are available in a 'read-only' mode – not allowing posting new messages. The Xbox Live members are unable to play games online or use any of the service's other features. The Xbox Live will return online after 24 hours today (17 June).