We've got a big, juicy Xbox rumor today, kiddies (one we've heard before, but juicy nonetheless). Smarthouse is reporting that Microsoft and Toshiba are teaming up to manufacture a new Xbox 360 with an internal HD-DVD drive. The new box would be aimed squarely at the entertainment market, and would include new "entertainment software" with functionality similar to Media Center. The article notes that the software wouldn't actually be Media Center, but a "spin off" instead. The machine also supposedly sports a host of other features including a dual HDTV tuner, large hard drive, wireless networking, and a docking port for an MP3 player. Added to this pile of speculation is the development of "a new open standard chassis system that allows an Xbox to be slotted into a HD TV screen over 40-inch." If we're reading that right, that means a TV with your Xbox 360 build right in.All of this is apparently being done to combat Blu-Ray, which is being pushed by the Playstation 3. Frankly, it sounds a bit like overkill, but Smarthouse claims to have inside sources, including a Toshiba executive. The mysterious executive had this to say: "An Xbox with a built in HD DVD drive is critical. They and we are working on it. It also has to be more than a gaming machine. Microsoft recognise this." The exec added that the device might be marketed as a Toshiba product as well as a Microsoft product.
We'll see. Honestly, it doesn't make sense. HD-DVD might need a boost, but the 360 is doing just fine without it. We have to wonder about this Super Xbox, though. As something designed primarily to sell HD-DVD, how much will all these extra features cost? Assuming the rumor is correct, we'll find out in late 2008 or early 2009.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
10-19-2007 @ 12:35PM
scott said...
believe it when I see it
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10-19-2007 @ 12:36PM
kineticonline said...
As long as games stay on DVD then im all for it.
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10-19-2007 @ 12:40PM
poprocker said...
If it debuts for over $400 you can forget about it selling well. IF...and i mean IF...it were to ever come out.
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10-19-2007 @ 12:40PM
Josh said...
I'm waiving the BS flag on this one. I could see Microsoft doing this if HD DVD was actually selling as good or better than Blu-ray but that's quite a chance to take. Blu-ray could win the format war by next holiday season and then what would Microsoft do? Too risky if you ask me and there is absolutely zero benefit to gamers if they take this route.
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10-19-2007 @ 12:41PM
poprocker said...
I meant $500
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10-19-2007 @ 12:44PM
Scott said...
Why don't they just drop the price of the external HD DVD drive down to $99?
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10-19-2007 @ 12:45PM
Tony said...
It's funny that this rumor appeared just a couple of days after an analyst was saying he felt it was going to happen.
I just don't see the point. Go buy a HD-DVD player or the add-on and be done with it.
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10-19-2007 @ 12:50PM
johnnybones117 said...
Does it still come with ALF?????
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10-19-2007 @ 12:51PM
Chris said...
Yeah I believe that thing would cost at least 600-700 dollars. They need to start working on the next xbox and the eradication of the 3 red rings of death instead of this hi-end xbox rumor.
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10-19-2007 @ 12:54PM
Shadowcast said...
I'd say an external Blu-Ray drive was much more likely than this... and that TV chassis thing is just plain insane (unintentional rhymes are made of win and awesome).
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10-19-2007 @ 12:55PM
Doc said...
it would make more sense if they we're talking about the next gen xbox. which, from what ive heard, is suppose to be out in 2009. but yeah, and newer Xbox 360 with that is not really believable. i put my money on the next gen xbox to have that. and if they do do this, it would be completely worthless is my oppion. again, thats My oppion. haha
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10-19-2007 @ 1:00PM
DeadPlasmaCell said...
If true, I think MS Eff'ed up big time.. Had they done this in the first place there would be no format war.
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10-19-2007 @ 1:02PM
Loban said...
This is pretty much rumored to be the next system in the Xbox line rather than an update to the Xbox 360. So this would be the Xbox 720 or whatever. It would be to the Xbox 360 what the PS3 is to the PS2.
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10-19-2007 @ 1:03PM
Dave said...
i remember how PS3 got all kinds of hell for putting blu-ray into its system, but in retrospect, it was probably the best thing they could have done. There are no real good killer games for the system. Its primary use is as a cheap blu-ray player. Maybe, MAYBE, including the HD DVD could push even more systems, AND help M$ win the format war!
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10-19-2007 @ 1:06PM
itsburnsie said...
I'm with kineticonline on this one...
I love my 360, and I have no problems with them doing whatever they want to the futures 360's... but if a HD-DVD drive means they would start putting out HD-DVD only games I'm gone.
I quit PC gaming because of ridiculous yearly upgrades, it's the last thing I want out of my console experience.
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10-19-2007 @ 1:09PM
GregA said...
Wow, if Microsoft releases the xbox 360.5 with a hd-dvd drive, and a beefed up processor + gpu not only would they definitivly win this generation of console war, but they would be pulling out ahead of all comers for the next gen as well.
So it looks to me like just a few months after killzone 2 and MGS come out for the ps3, Microsoft will have moved onto the next gen.
Bad day to be a PS3 or wii fanboy. Boy did you guys pick wrong.
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10-19-2007 @ 1:09PM
Eddie said...
I would buy it. My xbox is my favorite device in my home theater system, and I have often sat there wishing I could watch TV with it. I hate that the HD DVD drive is separate, not only because it just doesn't fit well (the xbox and HDDVD drive's sizes just aren't compatible) but because it makes taking it on a "sales call" (to a friend's house to convince him to buy an Xbox or HD-DVD) really a royal pain. I would shell out a nice chunk for dual HDTV tuners, and one power supply for xbox and the hd-dvd plyer.
I would even go so far as to say that if I had this, I wouldn't even buy the next XBox right away. I like games, but I spend more money on movies and TV service in any given month.
I think where Sony had a "Trust us, this is the one box you need for everything" approach upfront with the PS3, MS had a "this is a gaming machine, but you can use it as a media center if you want to (and want to shell out some more $$)" and to me, it HAS become the hub of my entertainment experience. Please be true!
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10-19-2007 @ 1:11PM
MARKTW said...
While the HD-DVD player idea is new the rest has been in the works to help launch IPTV for quite some time now!
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10-19-2007 @ 1:13PM
GregA said...
#17,
I find it hard to beleive that they would do this without also beefing up the cpu and gpu, nothing radical, just 4x to 8x faster(already available off the shelf), and a gig of ram instead of 512. Retain total 100% backward compatability.
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10-19-2007 @ 1:21PM
FrankTheCrank said...
Finally, THE REAL ELITE.
This thing is going to run about $599+.
Screw this, I'm taking back my Elite now, while I still can.
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