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Microsoft Corp. on Tues. announced that the Xbox 360 Family Timer is available for download via Xbox Live in 26 countries.

The new feature allows parents to set the appropriate amount of time for gaming on the Xbox 360 video game console.

Notificiations will appear to warn gamers that their session is nearing the end. The feature will automatically turn off the console when the time limit has been exceeded.

“As a leader in interactive entertainment, it has been our priority to innovate and improve our Family Settings technology to help parents worldwide manage their children’s video gaming and online experiences,” said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of Global Marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft.

In a Microsoft survey, 62 percent of parents said they would use a timer to help them manage their children’s interactive entertainment use. A survey conducted in Europe yeilded a 75 percent rate for parents who welcome technology to monitor their the time their children play video games.

Microsoft in early Nov. announced the new Family Timer option. The new feature is aimed to help broaden the Xbox 360 audience, which consists mostly of core video game users. Last year, Microsoft introduced a new IP called Viva Pinata to help attract new consumers to the console.

In Oct. it released a family friendly Xbox 360 Arcade SKU for $279.99. In addition, the Xbox Live Marketplace offers more than 100 new episodes of popular Warner Bros. Entertainment and Nickelodeon TV shows.

Microsoft in Oct. held a spiked sales increase for the Xbox 360 on the launch of the anticipated title Halo 3. Robust sales helped record a Q1 profit for Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices division, which includes Xbox business.