Microsoft today announced that the Spring 2007 Xbox Live update will include the launch of the new Windows Live Messenger service. Starting May 7, you’ll now be able to be constantly interrupted by just about everyone you know at any moment in time.

Trying to beat that last boss in Gears? Now your real boss can ask you where those TPS Reports are. 5 minutes away from winning the Stanley Cup? Too bad your girlfriend will then demand you talk to her that moment about that weird rash her ferret’s having.

Sure, there may be times when this service is convenient, but is this really the direction that gamers want to go? Next up we’ll be hearing that Microsoft will be releasing a motion-sensing controller, rendering people like me who don’t always want to be gyrating wildly when playing a game obsolete. Oh, the humanity…

What’s better yet is the new-fangled controller that will be coming this summer, complete with a text-messenger-style keyboard attached at the bottom. It looks like the 360 controller ate, but couldn’t finish, a Treo. Yikes.

Convergence may be the word that the industry keeps repeating to itself these days, but sometimes I think people just want to play some games to get the hell away from the demands that the world places on them. Seems to me that all we’re doing now is making it even tougher to get a little play time.

Anyway, the full and official news is here. Enjoy.