Rumours that Microsoft is soon to release a new version of Xbox 360 are gathering pace, with reports calling the machine Xbox 360 Elite.
Game Informer and Engadget are carrying information on what is said will be a new 360 package released in April and sit alongside the existing Core and Premium console editions. Decked out in black, the Elite edition features a 120Gb HDD and support HDMI, but not an internal HD-DVD drive.
Engadget says the Elite edition will be released in limited supply and retail in the US for $479.
The site adds that, down the line, once the Elite is sold out Xbox 360s in the Premium pack will come with the bigger hard drive and HDMI support. It's estimated that the revised Premium pack will be available summer/autumn and initially will retail at the $479 price point.
We're awaiting a response from Microsoft to the reports. UPDATE: Microsoft says, "We don't comment on rumour and speculation".
Images of the Xbox 360 Elite published here are taken from Engadget and Game Informer magazine.
More rumours eh? If this was true, Microsoft are gonna release it for nearly the same price as the PS3 and have no HD-Dvd within the box???
It wouldnt do well because there would be 2 cheaper alternitives.... Just remember what happened in japan when sony re-released the white PS2, with the built in HDD and TV support. If you dont remember it was a huge mess!
More rumours eh? If this was true, Microsoft are gonna release it for nearly the same price as the PS3 and have no HD-Dvd within the box???
It wouldnt do well because there would be 2 cheaper alternitives.... Just remember what happened in japan when sony re-released the white PS2, with the built in HDD and TV support. If you dont remember it was a huge mess!
no you idiot. it will be sold for 480 dollars which = 250 pounds. any way, they said it will eventually replace the current premium pack. meaning it will be 280 quid.
All i want is a console that will properly utilise the fact i have an HDTV - i.e. have HDMI, so despite Sony's problems I will eventually buy a PS3, unless this is true, then i will happily get an Xbox.
Microsoft - do it, don't make me spent half a grand on a ps3.
More rumours eh? If this was true, Microsoft are gonna release it for nearly the same price as the PS3 and have no HD-Dvd within the box???
It wouldnt do well because there would be 2 cheaper alternitives.... Just remember what happened in japan when sony re-released the white PS2, with the built in HDD and TV support. If you dont remember it was a huge mess!
no you idiot. it will be sold for 480 dollars which = 250 pounds. any way, they said it will eventually replace the current premium pack. meaning it will be 280 quid.
But you have forgotten how the EU market works with EU taxes work and how currency works in the EU as well. However if it came out, I bet the price would be about:
I think that this rumour holds true, the new black xbox 360 with larger hdd and hdmi connection will be availble in a few weeks time, it will slighty dearer than the current premium pack in both the states and euroland. This is what MS should do, drop the price of the core down a hundred quid, drop the current premium pack down to 200 quid and bring in the elite pack at 300 quid, that way it's still a hundred 125 quid cheaper for dearest 360 than ps3.
If they do this then come early next year they can phrase out the non hdd 360 and drop the premium from 200 to slighty more than a hundred and bring the elite one down to the 200 mark.
I think it's a sensible thing to do, after all MS now make money on every 360 sold, they have brought a small lose into a small profit for each machine, which will only rise when the complete component shrink comes.
Another thing MS should offer special deals for premium pack owners give us your premium machine and we will give you an elite for 50 quid.
Another thing MS should offer special deals for premium pack owners give us your premium machine and we will give you an elite for 50 quid.
Seconded.
I want one, but I don't know why. My HDTV only does 1080i and then without an HDMI port, there's nothing worth watching on HD-DVD yet anyway, and I've already got a premium.
Bigger HDD would be nice though, and black is a much sexier colour for a console.
More rumours eh? If this was true, Microsoft are gonna release it for nearly the same price as the PS3 and have no HD-Dvd within the box???
It wouldnt do well because there would be 2 cheaper alternitives.... Just remember what happened in japan when sony re-released the white PS2, with the built in HDD and TV support. If you dont remember it was a huge mess!
no you idiot. it will be sold for 480 dollars which = 250 pounds. any way, they said it will eventually replace the current premium pack. meaning it will be 280 quid.
But you have forgotten how the EU market works with EU taxes work and how currency works in the EU as well. However if it came out, I bet the price would be about:
£350 to £380
Did you read my Post properly - I said $480 = about £250, i didnt say it would be released in UK for £250, I said it would sell for £280 (if it is believed it will replace the current £280 machine)
Don't get me wrong tho, I'm not sticking up for MS, I think this is a lazy attempt to sway us from the PS3, They should have opted for a HD-DVD drive, and sold it for about £325, that way it would offer everything the PS3 does and undercut it by £100
I want HDMI and a larger HDD for definite but what I don't want is an ugly black Xbox 360... the silver tray looks too obvious and the white faceplate designs I have will look totally out of place on it. Also they really should have considered adding the HD-DVD drive as an internal replacement for the DVD. If you're gonna redesign a console then you might as well go the whole hog! Hopefully, if it's true, Microsoft will release black and white versions.
And speaking of Microsoft, they should drop the core 360, replace it with the premium 360 at the same price point and sell the elite model at £280.
looks photoshopped, whatever the source is, i dont understand why leaked images would be so low in quality if it was intended for presentation, or why it isnt an actual digicam shot and instead a poor image on a rendered backdrop.
I think it's honestly just for the fast growing (in the US) Xbox360 Video Marketplace gamers, although I will gladly pick up a larger Hard drive.
I don't mind a new designed Xbox360 being produced, I've had my 360 since launch and am loving every minute of it (hard to believe it'll be 1 1/2 years in May). Great stuff.
I'll be p**sed off if the release an upgraded version. Once again, the early adopters get shafted.
I think these slight upgrades are a good thing. gamers needs have increased. downloading games/films etc A bigger HD is a logical move, and its not really the same as a change in spec. HDMI definately necessary for hdtv owners.
It does leave the impression that perhaps the launch 360 was a rush job, ie the console has HD graphics but no hdmi connector.- very illogical?
however i will definatley get the new white xbox. I dont like the black one as it looks like an imitation of the PS3.I just hope there are no upgrades after that.
simply put, microsoft should 100% be giving people a 360 with built in hddvd by now but htey havnt,probs because bluray is oviously winning the race right now...whats going on
There can’t be 3 versions, this must be the end of the core pack. Leaving the premium price to tumble down to nearer where the core is now – which is good! All of which puts the old thumbscrews on Sony to lower the price of the PS3.
To those slagging the mock-up black360, I should think the rumours came first and the picture was made to help propel the story and just to give a visual aid.
Lol..yah could potentially be and April Fools thing. But then again, if it does turn out to be true, they should of threw in a built in HD player along with it. Of course for all the current 360 owners like me, to enjoy these new features means I'll have to get rid of my current 360 (this is my second one anyways) and shell out another few hundred bucks. Its a good thing my wallet is too fat with money, otherwise i wouldn't know what to spend it on.. (yeah right...)
Stop whining about an updated version of the 360, it happens in every market for every product in the world.
iPod's for example, the nano, then a redesigned nano, the iPod then the iPod video, the shuffle then a smaller shuffle.
Nintendo does it to, look how many version of the GBA there are, the original GBA had no back lit screen compared with the SP and the new DS Lite is a lot better than the original DS with a sharper and brighter screen and better design.
There is an endless list of examples, fridges, TV's, Cars, I could go on, but you get the idea.
Playstation did it with that white Playstaion they launched in Japan, that had a load of multimedia features... that flopped though...
Did you read my Post properly - I said $480 = about £250
but before
it will be sold for 480 dollars which = 250 pounds.
hahaha you dont have a clue what your on about do you? lol haha muppet.
what a snooker cue. my original post said it would sell for 480 dollars. and since we don't use dollars here I was obvously refering to the states price. then in the same post I pointed out that 480 dollars roughly = 250 pounds. but would probably sell here for 280 replacing the current premium version.
AAAARRRGGGGHHHH. I SPENT 10 MINUTES WRITING A REPLY AND THEN IT WENT TO THE LOG-IN SCREEN AND WOULDN'T LET ME LOG-IN SO I LOST MY POST! Checking if this will work.
Okay besides the microsoft fanboys, who in their right mind is gonna fork out for this? It has a huge hardrive that most people won't ever fully use up, it has no high-def DVD playback and it is coloured black WHOOOPEEEE!
Looks like a desperate move by Microsoft to try to take some of the wind out of the PS3 sales, which is gaining some momentum.
Just to let people know that $479 price tag, is the american price tag. If microsoft do what sony did, and raise the price tag by about £150-200 which is likely for european customers, this could be quite a failer out in europe.
This is rubbish. I have not even used the 20gb hard drive in my current 360. There is nothing worth downloading from the UK marketplace. To be honest the content is rubbish. The new console, the big question would it work longer than 12 months?
Nintendo does it to, look how many version of the GBA there are, the original GBA had no back lit screen compared with the SP and the new DS Lite is a lot better than the original DS with a sharper and brighter screen and better design.
Yeah, but atleast you're not forking out another few hundred $$$ or something just to get the new features.
Nintendo does it to, look how many version of the GBA there are, the original GBA had no back lit screen compared with the SP and the new DS Lite is a lot better than the original DS with a sharper and brighter screen and better design.
Yeah, but atleast you're not forking out another few hundred $$$ or something just to get the new features.
I've read that there will only be a limited amout of black "elite" systems, before the white is introdiced.
Does anyone know if these black systems will come to the UK at all?
Surely the non-inclusion of the HD-DVD drive means that Microsoft do not have enough confidence in their format to include it in their console, surely this means that they are conceding the DVD war.
Also, the chances are that if it is released in the UK, it will probably cost around £325.
I have not even used the 20gb hard drive in my current 360. There is nothing worth downloading from the UK marketplace. To be honest the content is rubbish. The new console, the big question would it work longer than 12 months?
Agree 100%, but since the 1 year warranty is up for me, and yes my 360 broke and they sent me a new one. I hated the white 360 so couldn't be bothered to hang on for these rumours to come of anything so took it upon myself to turn it black. £35 for a full case £17 for controller, problem solved for me
I think its official, Microsoft said they were going to look at "upgrading" the Xbox when they felt the time was right.
Reducing the silicon wafer was Microsofts first step, which hasnt gone into any 360s yet despite the fact manufacturing is happening.
Larger HDDs were annouced last year it would happen when the time was right. TV downloads are now in the states, that part of the equation, makes sense to look at larger storage now before broadcast downloads start hitting Europe..
Lastly HDMI, MS were being a bit coy on this, but never once ruled it out. Saying it would be looked into.
The only thing I am supprised about is the unit not including HD-DVD, but then if they did include it, people would be bitching saying microsoft didnt keep there word.
Its not costing them any more to produce this, its a black paint job, a connection and larger HDD. They save on the reduced die size and MFR process, Premiums are in good supply, the most costly thing in there bar the CPU and GFX is the HDD. They are sod all these days and thats to a consumer, not a company buying millions of them. What they might lose out on gets passed to us, but 18months on they can start looking at redesigns.
The only thing that might not be true is the release date, as they slip.
Of cause the biggest thing is sales, the marketing strategy is working without them paying a penny to advertise it yet. Already people are saying, I will trade in my unit for one, or this is what I was waiting for.
Its whats known as good business. MS do something right each year, regardless of how many court cases they settle, they always end thumbs up as a compan as a whole.
Wouldnt it just be easier to release a hmdi cable for the 360 and a larger harddrive instead of forcing us(well those that want everything new) to buy a new 360 that colourwise may suck. I like mine as it is; but then all i would need is a larger harddrive. OR is it another way of taking up the only hdmi socket on my telly?
Do we really need a hdmi over a HD component cable? I guess that is my question?
I wonder if any goodness falls through to Core though. If you're going to add value to Premium and defend the $399 price point (which if you have your eye on Sony, you certainly can), then what do you do with Core? It's internals are getting cheaper too. Are you going to cut the price on it and open a bigger gap between it and Premium? Or do you add some value to it as well and defend at $299? It's a tough situation I think. Introducing a 120GB accessory is fine, but then it begs the question of why the larger HDD is not in the so-called Premium. At the same time, it costs more than the 20GB (I'm only guessing as it is a 2.5" SATA ), so a price reduction would hurt them if they reduced the price of the replacement hardware. As for the consumer... yes, it sucks that the "premium" doesn't get a price reduction, but it seems the only way to avoid a third permanent SKU and have an excuse to keep that price point. Introducing the elite edition now with HDMI and the 120GB will create the sense of value by the time it replaces the Premium edition later on in the sense that you'll be getting that same hardware for $80 less.
Personally, I think the model will have a hard time selling to the upper price bracket without an HDD of some sort as the crowd that would be interested in an expensive HDMI enabled console would also be interested in a HDD. Perhaps a $100 off coupon for the external drive or something to that effect but even that is crap as this crowd would also want the device to look nice (black). Time will tell I suppose but the BOM and rumored msrp point to an embedded drive being a real possibility. The new SKU, if real, shows some of MS's shortsightedness. Adding HDMI after selling 10+ million is kind of a slap in the face to many who screamed about it over a year ago. The hard drive fiasco (20GB/14GB usable or 0GB) doesn't make much sense considering all the DL-able content on Live, including 4GB movies.
Another thing MS should offer special deals for premium pack owners give us your premium machine and we will give you an elite for 50 quid.
haha, love your optimism.
is that like the deal where you give them your windows xp and they give you vista for £20? or that one they had when the xbox2 came out, and you could get one for £30 if you traded in your xbox1!?
who in their right mind is gonna fork out for this? As oppossed to Sony fanboys forking out £400-£500 for PS3
Looks like a desperate move by Microsoft Almost every console I know has brought out revisions. I don't think desperation has anything to do with it, more to ignite new interest in the system.
PS3 sales, which is gaining some momentum Yeh, as much momentum as a one legged turtle climbing everest. At this stage, I think MS are watching the Wii more than the PS3.
A revised version of the 360 could be a good idea (true or not). Such a strategy puts the 360 back in the consumers mind. Lets face it, with the release of the Wii and imminent PS3, the 360 is quiet in the sense of hype and fresh. The elite could solve this!
PS3 sales, which is gaining some momentum Yeh, as much momentum as a one legged turtle climbing everest. At this stage, I think MS are watching the Wii more than the PS3.
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