Microsoft Unveils Xbox 360 Elite

[McBain]

Press release:

Microsoft Unveils Xbox 360 Elite

Premium black console includes 120GB hard drive and line of new accessories.

REDMOND, Wash. — March 27, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the upcoming availability of Xbox 360™ Elite, a new model of the video game and entertainment system that will include a 120GB hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a high-definition cable, and a premium black finish for the console, wireless controller and Xbox LIVE® headset. Xbox 360 Elite has enough space for a library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games and thousands of songs, as well as downloadable high-definition TV shows and movies available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The new 120GB hard drive also will be sold as a stand-alone accessory to give current Xbox 360 owners greater choice and flexibility in their games and entertainment experience. Additional Xbox 360 Elite accessories, such as the black Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit and the Xbox 360 rechargeable battery, will be available separately. The Xbox 360 Elite and its accessories are expected to begin arriving in U.S. stores on April 29.

“Today’s games and entertainment enthusiast has an insatiable appetite for digital high-definition content,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Xbox 360 Elite’s larger hard drive and premium accessories will allow our community to enjoy all that the next generation of entertainment has to offer.”

Distinguished by its black finish and signature metallic detailing, Xbox 360 Elite will have an estimated retail price1 of $479.99 (U.S.) and will come packed with components and accessories for the ultimate high-definition entertainment experience:2

• Xbox 360 Elite console. The console is equipped with a premium black finish and three powerful core processors capable of producing the best in HD entertainment (up to 1080p), 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio, anti-aliasing for smooth textures, full surround sound, HDMI output and DVD playback with upscaling capabilities right out of the box.

• Xbox 360 120GB hard drive. The 120GB detachable hard drive allows gamers to save their games and store television shows, movies, music, pictures, trailers, levels, demos and other content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.3 The hard drive is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $179.99 (U.S.).

• Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black). This award-winning, high-performance wireless controller, now in black, features the Xbox® Guide Button for quick, in-game access to friends and music. It has a range of up to 30 feet and a battery life of 30 hours on two AA batteries. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $49.99 (U.S.).

• Xbox 360 headset (black). Now available in black, the headset lets gamers strategize or trade taunts while playing games and send voice messages to friends on Xbox LIVE.

• Xbox 360 HDMI cable. New to Xbox 360, HDMI allows consumers to get HD video (up to 1080p) and multichannel surround sound, all from one cable.

• Xbox LIVE Silver Membership. With this, gamers can chat with friends online, collect achievements and gamerscores, send and receive voice and text messages, and access Xbox LIVE Marketplace content such as game demos, HD movies and TV, as well as the best in downloadable games from Xbox LIVE Arcade.
• One-month subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold. An Xbox LIVE Gold Membership provides a complete online entertainment experience. Those who subscribe to this premium service can engage in competitive online multiplayer matches, tailor their matchmaking via feedback and accomplishments, chat with more than one person at a time, and take advantage of unique privileges in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and Xbox LIVE Arcade.

The following accessories for the Xbox 360 Elite console will only be sold separately:

• Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit. Complete with a charging cable and a black rechargeable battery pack, the Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit allows gamers to recharge their Xbox 360 Wireless Controller without interrupting their gameplay. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $19.99 (U.S.).

• Xbox 360 rechargeable battery (black). The rechargeable battery pack provides more than 25 hours of gameplay per charge. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $11.99 (U.S.).

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is the most powerful video game and entertainment system, delivering the best games, the next generation of the premier Xbox LIVE online gaming network and unique digital entertainment experiences that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 has a catalog of more than 160 high-definition games and is available in 37 countries. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.

[partridge]

MS are running scared.

They patched the original 360, released add ons for it to make it better, and now their latest attempt to match the PS3 is to release a new version of the console barely 18 months after launch.

What a joke. MS are clueless; they argued HD movies weren't important, they argued 1080p wasn't needed, they argued HDMI was unnecessary! but in the last year they've included the means for the 360 to do all the things they criticised the PS3 for doing!

[nhaase]

In January I told a friend of mine that if this was true I would sell him my premium, then get the Elite (called it Zephyr at the time) and the HD-DVD add-on, so I would have both formats, and would be set no matter which won the war. I told him a few weeks ago that is NOT going to happen, because we can all see the end, and it doesn't involve me needing an HD-DVD player.

Hell, they're even copying the PS3's color now!

[McBain]

Some commentary at the Financial Times:

"Microsoft Xbox 360 deals blow to Toshiba"
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/d41898d2-dcb...b5df10621.html

[nhaase]

Originally Posted by McBain

Some commentary at the Financial Times:

"Microsoft Xbox 360 deals blow to Toshiba"
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/d41898d2-dcb...b5df10621.html

This just keeps getting better! Happy Days, Happy Days are here at last.

[HDJK]

“This is an acknowledgement that the PS3 was probably priced about right”

Yes evil Sony charged so much money if they could have sold a lesser product first and then charge again for a product that comes closer (but still no cigar) a year later. How can any Sony hater still side with HD-DVD and M$ and still call Sony the greedy enemy.

[JTK]

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=6860&page=3

Start with post 43 and work your way forward for more discussion on this that we had earlier in another thread.


So basically, Microsoft is putting out a 360 that looks more like a PS3 black and all. Too bad the hardware still isn't nearly as good as the PS3's.

MS rushed the 360 to market. Everyone knows it. Here's the result that a surprising number of people expected from day one. 'Nuff said.

[partridge]

So the dedicated 360 gamer will, no doubt, feel compelled to buy this new version meaning they will have spent a sizeable amount on their gaming platform - and somehow the PS3 is overpriced? The PS3 still does everything the elite does, and more, out of the box.

I can buy an external hard drive with double the storage of the MS drive for the same money, or less.

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by partridge

So the dedicated 360 gamer will, no doubt, feel compelled to buy this new version meaning they will have spent a sizeable amount on their gaming platform - and somehow the PS3 is overpriced? The PS3 still does everything the elite does, and more, out of the box.

I can buy an external hard drive with double the storage of the MS drive for the same money, or less.

Been telling all my friends this since the 360 launched they were going to do this..that they were rushing it out. The ones that waited and got a PS3 are all chuckling at them now...they aren't amused. Next year it will be a blu-ray version so the devs can make games that last longer than 5 hours...might as well wait instead of getting suckered a 3rd time .. just in case.. or get a PS3 now that was future-proofed from the beginning.

PS3 - Better quality, more open, Linux, wi-fi, Sixaxis, HD for devs, better (lag free) on-line gameplay that is FREE, bigger game worlds, 3D Home (sixaxis enabled), PSP integration, and oh yeah blu-ray

[Mikeyk001]

The only way I would even consider selling my 360 and buying this "new" 360 is if it had a build in HD-DVD player (just because there are a couple movies I would love to have that are only on HD-DVD, and I dont wanna wait for the BD). But since it doesnt maybe I will wait another year until MS releases another version...

[bluetyler]

Originally Posted by McBain

Some commentary at the Financial Times:

"Microsoft Xbox 360 deals blow to Toshiba"
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/d41898d2-dcb...b5df10621.html

Thanks McBain. This quote is very interesting:

“I think, if nothing else, this is an acknowledgement that Blu-ray is going to win [the standards war],” said Michael Pachter, video games analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities.

[Kierre]

I kinda wish that MS had included the HD-DVD within the XBOX Elite just for sporty competition purposes. This is turning out to be one of those severely unfair matches. How long can you watch the little guy in the corner taking this BEATDOWN!

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by Kierre

I kinda wish that MS had included the HD-DVD within the XBOX Elite just for sporty competition purposes. This is turning out to be one of those severely unfair matches. How long can you watch the little guy in the corner taking this BEATDOWN!

Think I'll go buy Happy Feet and March of the Penguins.

[McBain]

Where’s the matching “premium black finish” version of the HD DVD add-on?

[Shu76]

All this is doing is making the PS3 look good. This 360 Elite is junk,and a slap in the face to all current 360 owners.

[WeApOn]

Good point partridge. They said 1080p was not going to show up, and it wasn't needed. It did show up, and now they are including it in the new XBOX? Along with HDMI which they said wasn't important.

I was SHOCKED to see they did not include HD-DVD in here. And this truly does show MS is abandoning it, and this will ensure Blu-Ray to win.

I do respect that they are going to use IPTV- which will allow users to download any HD movie they want digitally, and be able to store on their HD. That means the winner of the HD war won't matter.

I remember (Bill Gates i think?) saying that this is the last generation of media. Meaning that everything from this point out will be downloadable content. I think that sounds a little rushed, but it looks like their approach here.

What do you guys think about IPTV? Pro's and Con's.

[mrb713]

What makes this so elite ? Whith no built in HD-DVD drive and no wifi, why did they even bother?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by mrb713

What makes this so elite ? Whith no built in HD-DVD drive and no wifi, why did they even bother?

If they hadn't been in such a hurry to rush the 360 out...this is the product they should have released in the first place.

[bigmf]

I'm not surprised there is no HDDVD drive, data transfer rate on games probably wouldn't be up to the required speed - 12x? However, wifi seems like a no-brainer on this but it isn't there. All other current consoles and handhelds have built in wif, but he 360? Overpriced add-on only.

Weak!

[haushausman]

So I still won't play HD-DUDs without the ugly add-on??! I'm I missing something?? Is M$ retarded?! If I was running the show over there I'd make HD Movie playback a priority over all the other features.

Microsoft has truly lost its mind over the BD boom...