$479 black 120GB 360 coming next month?

  • By thorsen-ink, GameSpot
  • Posted Mar 20, 2007 12:26 pm PT

Source: Some Game Informer scans on Kotaku. What we heard: Yes, you've heard this rumor before: Microsoft is readying a new version of the Xbox 360 with a 120GB hard drive and an HDMI video output port. The rumor's been around since January, thanks to a leaked photo of the so-called...

Source: Some Game Informer scans on Kotaku.

What we heard: Yes, you've heard this rumor before: Microsoft is readying a new version of the Xbox 360 with a 120GB hard drive and an HDMI video output port. The rumor's been around since January, thanks to a leaked photo of the so-called "Zephyr"--an HDMI-equipped 360, which Microsoft claimed was only a concept model.

Now, though, word of a 120GB 360 has elevated above the realm of speculation. Leaked scans revealed that next month's issue of Game Informer has a straight-up, nonspeculative news article containing a bevy of details about the machine.

According to GI, the rumors are all true: The new Xbox 360 has an HDMI port and will be bundled with an HDMI cable. It also sports a 120GB hard drive and a matte black housing and will come with a matching black controller. It will also be released in "late April"--much sooner than the rumored holiday launch.

That was the good news. The bad news is the console's reported price--a hefty $479, just $20 less than the 20GB PlayStation 3. But, unlike Sony's console, the new Xbox 360 won't support a next-generation video format. GI quotes a Microsoft rep as saying the format is "not proven." That fact was backed up by a recent report by industry-research firm Nielsen/Videoscan, which found the PS3-supported Blu-ray format is outselling HD-DVD two-to-one.

Luckily, early adopters with overstuffed 20GB drives will reportedly have an option other than plunking down nearly $500. The article says the 120GB hard drive will be sold separately for "under $200"--a welcome development for the cash-strapped 360 owner eager to take advantage of Xbox Live Marketplace video downloads and the forthcoming 360 IPTV service.

The official story: Even though the GI article is not rumor-based, Microsoft dismissed it as such. "It is our standard policy to not comment on speculation," a rep said. "Microsoft has not announced anything regarding a new Xbox."

Bogus or not bogus?: A source close to Microsoft confirmed that the new 360 is not bogus. However, said source had no information about the timing of its release.

974 Comments

  • capthunt

    Posted Apr 10, 2007 11:25 pm PT

    LOL! Consoles

  • SnipeyMcSnipe

    Posted Mar 30, 2007 3:37 pm PT

    I was gonna get it as my first 360, but w/o the hd-dvd....forget it.

  • OhhSnap50893

    Posted Mar 28, 2007 7:10 am PT

    Hopefully this will bring a price drop for the premium 360. I still haven't bought one.

  • Sycosi

    Posted Mar 28, 2007 4:30 am PT

    Sorry but I wont be trading in my current 360 at a loss to by this one! I don't need a 120 gig HD or HD out. VGA is more than good enough and WHY are they trying to make the 360 look like the PS3? Can you say rip-off!

  • Presidentman2

    Posted Mar 27, 2007 8:07 pm PT

    I WANT UPGRADE. KTHX. -_- I sincerly pissed now. Oh well, Lets just open the old one up and put a new processor in it. woot.

  • Mmazzarise

    Posted Mar 27, 2007 8:07 pm PT

    120GB HD, IPTV, HD-DVD add-on..Microsoft has won te console-wars

  • brerrabbit23

    Posted Mar 27, 2007 2:28 pm PT

    omg!!1 M$ is upgrading!!!1 dude, i bought a car last year, but this year's car is totally better. Ford should totally send me a new 'Stang for free!!! PSmypootiehurtsbecauseit'sgotsandinthere.

  • Zombie_Soldier

    Posted Mar 27, 2007 1:33 pm PT

    I don't really care, I'm keeping my 360. Why buy something pretty much the same thing with a few new things on it for a price almost matching the PS3? Besides, I like the white colour better, lol.

  • whole_in_1

    Posted Mar 26, 2007 2:07 am PT

    and then we have to pay 50$ for the crazy 360 Hard Drive Transfer Gizmondo Dongle Add-on of Doom.

  • geneticlone

    Posted Mar 25, 2007 9:04 pm PT

    I wish this thing packed hd dvd but oh well if i get the cash this is what i am getting for my bday on april 23 :-)

  • badboyx5

    Posted Mar 25, 2007 1:43 pm PT

    are you serious? what? i have to trade in my 360 and get about 100 bucks back out of it?
    you know game stop or gamecrazy will not give you a good trade value. and then spend another 380 for the new HDMI suport version, ok so what is the HDMI gonna do upconvert the dvd quality games to 1080p. ok i can do that with my curent 360 and i don't need an HDMI, its not like it will use the HDDVD to make discs and games and you use the HDMI and watch the TRUE 1080p, Thats!!! when you would really need HDMI support, and 120 gigs C'omon!!! why would you need that much memory anyways game saves take a little space, oh yea game demos, well you can delete them jeez thats why they are there to delete them after you try the game. im happy with the Current HDD... I think MS is just sucking money out of our pockets. My opinion is that MS can kiss my A**. Im still sticking to my current 360.

  • RSKirkland

    Posted Mar 24, 2007 1:41 pm PT

    Im still trying to afford a regular 360, much less pay that much for a Black one with HDMI.. Just makes me sadder than I already was. Man I just wish I had a white one to be honest.

  • theKSMM

    Posted Mar 23, 2007 5:53 am PT

    I was surprised that Microsoft didn't modify the original XBOX, so I'll be equally surprised if the XBOX 360 doesn't get a new form factor at some point. But I doubt that this is the time.

    Regardless, as long as current XBOX 360s continue to play the games that come out, then it's a moot point. The fact that someone else has a sleeker version of the system doesn't make yours any less capable. Personally, I think HDMI is forward-looking since most people don't have it yet, and those that do only have one or two HDMI ports. HD-DVD is Toshiba's battle; they better start bundling it on more laptops.

  • whaley87

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 8:25 pm PT

    Remember that this black one is just the "fanboy edition". After that sells out the white $400 version will have all this stuff, and then Xbox 360 will have a giant price advantage over the PS3.

  • greks224

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 8:03 pm PT

    Well this is good for me who doesn't have a 360 but wants one. Many will most likely trade in their 360's (with the HDD) and the used price will go down. I'm happy without the HDMI. My other option is to just stop pinching my pennies and get this version. 120 GB is enticing - and it's black! I wish MS would use a ds lite approach: better system, same price.

  • yabbal

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 6:39 pm PT

    The reason I was waiting for a HDMI model was for use with the HD-DVD drive, if the HDMI model has no inbuilt HD-DVD player and is about the same price as the base PS3 I may as well just get the PS3.

  • crazy_boy166

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 4:36 pm PT

    this is good man 20 bucks under the lil 20gb ps3 and you have 120gb pretty good i have to say

  • Andron666

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 4:24 pm PT

    It would be great news for those unfortunate souls who already have spent their money on a 360

    And if it comes without a HD-DVD drive, that's less surprising. HD-DVD is rapidly becoming synonymous with Beta-max...

    If it's true or just an April fools joke, it's actually something those wacky MS guys could dream up. Just watch the reactions here.

  • gskehans97

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 4:21 pm PT

    i want a black one!

  • jknight5422

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 3:46 pm PT

    "Look, a Playstation 3! Woops, that's an Xbox 360.

    Well, at least they got rid of that pesky cream color the original had(without charging over U$10 for a piece of plastic called "faceplate")

    I hate it when they change especifications in systems. I mean, it sucked when Sony released the PS2 slim, but at least the only difference was in design and the system was the same. (Kinda like nintendo did with GBA and NDS)

    If I had bought an Xbox, i'd be pretty angry. (Luckly, though, I don't trust Micro$oft one bit). I'll be happy with my Wii and cheering for the victory of the PS3, because I'd hate to see M$ hold yet one more monopoly."
    ---wizard_levy

    Your argument makes no sense at all. You are ASSUMING they are changing the "specifications". All they are adding is a bigger hd, HDMI, & a different color. The rest is the same architecture! So that game that runs on the Elite is going to run on the 360 as well. All the 360 games that come out are going to work with the old 360. And how is Sony not a monopoly??? They're no different from Softy. If you were against monopolies then you wouldn't praise either company. Cheering for victory for Sony while you own a Wii makes about as much sense as the rest of your goofy thoughts. Where is the Sony network, guy? Where is the multiplayer action? It doesn't have any & still doesn't! This is one of the true strengths of today's consoles & Sony has totally missed the boat on this one. In case you haven't read, Sony doesn't have the game market or the numbers of consoles in the wild. Even most of Sony's exclusives are "crossing the border" & going cross-platform so these wonderful game manufacturers can actually turn a profit! Hella, even game companies are STILL PRODUCING PS2 games! Go look at the next few months, there are plenty of PS2 games coming out.

    It's a free market & there is no dominance from either "monopoly" as you somehow are misguided by your own ill conceived perceptions.

  • mpeg3s

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 3:24 pm PT

    The 360 Premium will become $349 and the 360 Core will be discontinued.

  • FrostElf

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 2:46 pm PT

    Hehe..all I care about is if they put the new HDD on shelves so I can buy one..I could care less about color..doesn't affect the game performance -.-

  • rottenjoe

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 2:19 pm PT

    lol, microsoft is only making this 120 gb version of the xbox 360 to beat the ps3's 60 gb, even tho the 60 gb is more than enough, doubling that is just a waste.

  • bloodychimp

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 1:31 pm PT

    How many of you cows actually bought the $499 pack? ...
    ...
    Yeah thats what I thought.

  • cj_hope33

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 1:21 pm PT

    I dont have a 360 yet and this black 360 is the one I'm getting! Along with the black wii when that comes out cause black is sexy!!!

  • Psycho_Teen

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 12:23 pm PT

    I dont much care about the hard drive but whats with the launch gamer hate I want a Black 360 but it will run me about 250 if i sell my premium

  • ShadowFender24

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 12:10 pm PT

    Crap i just bought my 360 and they start talking about a better one already.

  • NND1

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 10:37 am PT

    I need new Machine!!! but my old one works too!

  • Bear-Max

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 10:28 am PT

    http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/7AECD830-47E7-489F-B42C-86EBA64ACB99.htm

    is the link to the gameinformer story. And those who think the blue Lights are cool, the magazine shows it as still green. Sorry.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Hmm interesting... The article says it's going to be called the Xbox 360 Elite.

    Elite... Halo... Simultaneuous release anyone?

  • killerT85

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 10:27 am PT

    This isn't bogus its gonna be called the elite and im so glad because even though i have a 1080p tv it like most others isnt programmed to receive 1080p through components. Hope blue dragon runs 1080p

  • killerT85

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 10:23 am PT

    This isn't bogus its gonna be called the elite and im so glad because even though i have a 1080p tv it like most others isnt programmed to receive 1080p through components. Hope blue dragon runs 1080p

  • jknight5422

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 9:49 am PT

    It would be interesting if they had a trade-in, but I don't know if they will. All I would like is the features of a less noisy DVD player & a CPU that either runs cooler or has a better cooling system. I like the white color of the original 360.

    As for HDDs, it has USB connections so I can get a 200G USB drive from Buy.com for $60 & simply store all the save game files, media, etc from the 360 onto the USB drive. So frankly, storage space should be the least of anyone's worries. What is baffling is why Softy is charging so much for them when they're so cheap these days. Is it a Raptor X they're putting in there?

    Lastly, I don't have the format of HDMI on my Outlaw 990 Surround Processor nor on my flat-screen tv. I'm happy with component video & will just have to make due.

  • zman112233

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 9:29 am PT

    I think it's an April Fools Day gag if you ask me!

  • RiceCake

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 9:25 am PT

    wow.... that sucks. Way to be behind the times M$! Its more than a year into the current gen of HD and NOW you release a console that makes use of it? A liiiiiiitle late.

  • BelgarathTAO73

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 9:19 am PT

    http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/7AECD830-47E7-489F-B42C-86EBA64ACB99.htm

    is the link to the gameinformer story. And those who think the blue Lights are cool, the magazine shows it as still green. Sorry.

  • R3DN1N3

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 9:00 am PT

    Everyone here is wondering what's going to happen with their current 360's and I am too since I do own one myself. I'm no psychic but my guess is that Microsoft will let current owners "upgrade" their consoles for a fee. If they don't make such an offer than unless there's enough people complaining Microsoft won't think it such a big deal and won't bend over public pressure....and u know what that means....we'll have to pay for another 360....unless u can stay happy with the one u currently own. I personally like my white 360 so if my BestBuy does let me upgrade then I'll ask them if I can switch the skins on the 360's that way It will still have that "white" color. Black is too overplayed and besides, I like how it looks so different than a PS3.

  • gmayronne

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 8:50 am PT

    i for one and a little p'oed. i just think its crap that we already spent 400 smackers on the 360 and now they do this, something that should have been done from the get go. i know ALOT of people who need a bigger harddrive but for 200 bucks!!! thats rediculous. not only that but my tv supports hdmi fully (its a 1080p tv, ahhhhh its niiiiiiice) which is something else MS should have included. at least sony was a little more full proof with there console when it released, giving you EVERYTHING you could possibly need for now and the future (well, true enough there is a severe lack of games right now, but im busy playing god of war 2 anyway). i imagine they will have a trade in your 360 for this new 360 deal but it wont be worth it because you spent 400 for the 360 which will probably trade in for about 250 or less so youll end up paying 200-250 extra for this new 360 which when you total it out will probably be in ps3 price range and beyond. i own a 360 and dont plan on buying this crap any time soon, just too much of a rip off. but i do think its funny how xbox fanboys raved about sony "copying" other companies and now look at MS, hdmi support and a larger harddrive, who is copying who there?

  • takashirose

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 8:32 am PT

    I hope this is true. I didn't buy an Xbox 360 premium last summer because I instead bought a sealed Turbo Duo from circa 1993. Since that is very rare, I spent my budget on one of the rarest systems there are. I am glad I got it. Now that was a good decision if this new xbox 360 is true. I hope it's true. I hope they have more than a coouple hundred thousand units for sale. People will be reselling them on eBay for a premium, which will be like the early PS3s. Anyway, I hope this is not an April Fools joke. Take care!

  • odmillan

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 8:15 am PT

    This just proves that the PS3 is a great deal at $600! $479 will only get you a black 360 with a larger HDD. But will still lack HD-DVD ($200) and a wireless network adapter ($100), bringing the price of the console to a whooping $779 to be on par with what you get from a PS3 out of the box and it's already back, beautiful shinny black! But I'm a sucker for new toys, which meas my 360 will be on eBay tonight. Look for it, just search for my eBay member ID, odmillan. Take care guys!!!

  • agmsd

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 7:52 am PT

    That's a hit @ everyone who baught the early X360, if it's true. and the price tag is rediculas... it's worse that the PS3's which everyone is yelling @ for a long time now...

  • agmsd

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 7:51 am PT

    That's a hit @ everyone who baught the early X360, if it's true. and the price tag is rediculas... it's worse that the PS3's which everyone is yelling @ for a long time now...

  • ajkloft

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 6:21 am PT

    I'm happy with my cream colored 360. Bigger harddrive? not necessary for me. Black color? Who cares about color...as long as it's not pink :p I'll stick to my original cream colored 360 thanks :p

  • wizard_levy

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 6:10 am PT

    Look, a Playstation 3! Woops, that's an Xbox 360.

    Well, at least they got rid of that pesky cream color the original had(without charging over U$10 for a piece of plastic called "faceplate")

    I hate it when they change especifications in systems. I mean, it sucked when Sony released the PS2 slim, but at least the only difference was in design and the system was the same. (Kinda like nintendo did with GBA and NDS)

    If I had bought an Xbox, i'd be pretty angry. (Luckly, though, I don't trust Micro$oft one bit). I'll be happy with my Wii and cheering for the victory of the PS3, because I'd hate to see M$ hold yet one more monopoly.

  • venus577

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 6:09 am PT

    Nice, just in time for Blue Dragon!

  • wizard_levy

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 6:09 am PT

    Look, a Playstation 3! Woops, that's an Xbox 360.

    Well, at least they got rid of that pesky cream color the original had(without charging over U$10 for a piece of plastic called "faceplate")

    I hate it when they change especifications in systems. I mean, it sucked when Sony released the PS2 slim, but at least the only difference was in design and the system was the same. (Kinda like nintendo did with GBA and NDS)

    If I had bought an Xbox, i'd be pretty angry. (Luckly, though, I don't trust Micro$oft one bit). I'll be happy with my Wii and cheering for the victory of the PS3, because I'd hate to see M$ hold yet one more monopoly.

  • feryl06

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 4:25 am PT

    let's see...it's already March and April is around the corner---yet no advertising? Hmmm..... why would a company who wants to get a word out about a new product supposedly selling in a matter of weeks not advertise it? Yea, bogus that it's selling in April. Maybe not bogus that there's a new 360 on the way--maybe the holiday season.

  • brett_reynolds

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 3:31 am PT

    too many 360 fanboys who are too stupid to know theyre getting ripped off

  • Martin_G_N

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 3:11 am PT

    Buy a PS3 in stead.....you can use a normal 2,5" S ATA drive in it....think!!!
    And it has bluray

  • onlineps2player

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 2:38 am PT

    wow! all in black.........

  • classicfan

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 2:10 am PT

    Wow Sony had better drop the price of the PS3 lol.

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