After Microsoft's scheduled downtime for Xbox Live having taken longer than expected, the service is back up and running.

A 24 hour period of downtime was planned, with the service being taken offline for maintenance - the purpose of which being to get the 'new Xbox experience' ready. A message popped up earlier on Microsoft mascot, Larry 'Major Nelson' Hryb's blog, however, stating, "The LIVE maintenance is taking longer than expected. I'll have an update at 0200 PT."

That update has turned up on his Twitter page, telling the world, "Xbox LIVE is now back online. Thanks for your patience." No explanation as to what has delayed the maintenance has been given.

So you know, he also tells us, "And the Rock Band Red Hot Chili Peppers songs are live".

SPOnG feels obliged to point out that, while the maintenance work has been in preparation for the new features being added to Live, those features will not be made available immediately. "Later this Fall" is when Hryb says the updates will be released.

^{Sources: Major Nelson's blog
Twitter}