Xbox Live Update for the week of July 25 through 31, 2010

Hydro Thunder Hurricane keeps the Summer of Arcade going at full speed. Initial impressions coming in say it’s a worthy sequel to this franchise from yesteryear. You’ll have 15 opponents ready to take on you and your rocket-powered speedboat, and new game modes include Ring Master and Gauntlet. Online play is, of course, a huge part of this latest Hydro Thunder incarnation all for 1,200 Microsoft Points ($15).

Hydro Thunder Hurricane is one of the Summer of Arcade titles for Xbox Live. Remember, if you buy them all you’ll get 1200 MP added to your account after the promotion is over. The others are Limbo, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, Monday Night Combat, ending with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light.

One of the year’s most anticipated demos comes along this week as Madden NFL 11 gives gamers a chance to see the new wrinkles in EA’s offense. This demo includes full commentary and five-minute quarters.

The Deal of the Week is discounted pricing on the add-ons for action-RPG Borderlands. It’s a really fun title and at those prices the add-ons are hard to beat.

Games on Demand this week gives you chances to be the Lord of the Rings, or just lord over your enemies in the ring. Lord of the Rings Conquest is a Star Wars Battlefront-style adventure set in the LOTR universe. It’s joined in Games on Demand by Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 and Smackdown vs. Raw 2009. The 2008 incarnation of THQ’s wrestling franchise features 8 superstar specific fighting styles, while 2009′s big innovation is co-op story mode. All three of titles are $19.99.

Read [Major Nelson] Also Read [Gamertell]