After learning that the New Xbox Experience and Avatar customization would require, at minimum, a 256MB memory card, it spawned more questions than answers. Would the NXE install take up all 256MB? If so, what about Xbox 360 Arcade owners and their tiny 256MB memory card? Wait, what about Core customers who don't have storage or own a 64MB memory card? What are they to do and is the NXE update a mandatory download? CONFUSION! So, we reached out to. Major Nelson and, thankfully, he cleared up said confusion ..."The new Xbox experience will require 128MB of free space. A hard drive is recommended for the optimal experience, to take advantage of some new features, and to be able to enjoy the great movies, TV shows and games available on Xbox LIVE. While we expect the majority of consumers to download the New Xbox Experience without a problem, a small percentage of Xbox 360 owners do not have enough memory to accommodate the update. To help ensure all Xbox LIVE members are able to download the New Xbox Experience and enjoy its new features, Microsoft will be offering storage solutions to the Xbox LIVE community. We are not sharing details of this offering yet. Be sure to check xbox.com for more details in the coming weeks."
There you have it. The NXE is a required dash update, will need roughly 128MBs of storage, a HDD is recommended AND (shocker here) for those who own little or no 360 storage, Microsoft will be offering some sort of "storage solution". We wait for more info ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-10-2008 @ 12:24PM
DBoyFlex said...
Nice to hear that for those without, but I wonder if it is a discount on a HDD or memory card. Who knows, maybe those with an arcade/core SKU will get something free from MS. Maybe, just maybe they care for their customers as much as they care to make money.
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10-10-2008 @ 12:29PM
Justin said...
That's awesome, but the same people that bought a core system are the same ones who don't read the internet.
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10-10-2008 @ 4:15PM
Urza said...
I'd be surprised if anyone was still using a Core system that didn't red ring. :)
10-10-2008 @ 12:32PM
CyberKnight said...
Call me cynical, but why do I smell more overpriced memory cards in the works? I was lucky to find a 512MB card as an "open box" item for half price once, and even then it was expensive as sin.
I have a hard drive, but I store my profile on the memory card (for portability and it keeps it "out of reach of children" ;) ). How much of this NXE will be stored on the hard drive, and how much with my profile? I'm assuming my avatar will go with my profile -- is that the full 128MB?
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10-10-2008 @ 12:39PM
OwningXylophone said...
That's a good point... I bought a 360 back when they came out with the 20gb HDD, but also grabbed a 64mb memory card when one appeared for the right price. My memory card now pretty much only holds my profile, which is 30mb on it's own! So if it stores the avatar in the profile, am going to lose the ability to have my profile on my memory card?
I wonder if they're going to offer a trade in to swap the 64mb cards for 256mb's?
10-10-2008 @ 12:35PM
DSK UK said...
I would like to know how much our gamer profiles are going to be in size. At the moment mine is 12mb. Is this why 128mb is needed for it? Because the profiles are going to be a lot larger?
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10-10-2008 @ 12:36PM
Doug said...
I asked this before buying an Arcade at the new $200 price. I was told on Joystiq forum... it's a firmware update. Don't worry about it ;)
Anyhow, glad to see MS has a plan.
And can we stop the Arcade bashing? It does make sense as a 2nd machine for family who only play Catan, Hexic and Luxor 2.
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10-10-2008 @ 12:49PM
mirage said...
Not trying to bash, but you paid $199 to play Catan, Hexic, and Luxor 2? Ouch...
10-10-2008 @ 12:56PM
Doug said...
Not exactly. Add a HDD and wireless adapter from my Pro model in the office, and suddenly it's a Pro, for Rock Band, streaming Netflix, etc.
And an Arcade comes with a wireless controller and a power cord (that's over $100 right there to buy separately) I'm able to let family play arcade games while I play Halo in the office.
It's a cheaper solution than buying another pro for a HDD that would rarely get used. And besides, you can get a used 20 gb HDD for almost $40 these days. Still cheaper than a Pro.
10-10-2008 @ 12:45PM
iFester said...
I've noticed your profile size increases with your Live activity (ie DLC, purchased XBLA titles). My current profile is around the 12mb mark while my secondary profile is only 400kb as I don't purchase anything on it (it's Silver so Gold must upgrade the profile size with licensing).
I have two Arcade units (one with a 20gb HDD I was given) so I guess I'll be needing some kind of solution for my other one (needed a DVD player for an SDTV but didn't have the room in the cabinet so since the 360 can stand up next to it...).
I'm curious to see what MS has in store.
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10-10-2008 @ 12:49PM
Lance said...
I just watched the video on my 360 about the new update and the developers said that they are working to make the 360 the central part of our entertainment system.
With that said, it begs to be repeated that the 360 NEEDS a much larger and affordable hard drive in order to do all of the things they are wanting to make it do. 120 GB isn't going to cut it, especially at the price they want for it.
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10-10-2008 @ 12:50PM
BrokenMonkey said...
Where in that statement does it say that it's a required dashboard update?
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10-10-2008 @ 1:07PM
dante sparda said...
All Dashboard Updates are required.
10-10-2008 @ 1:09PM
BrokenMonkey said...
Then why pose the question in the first place at the beginning of the post? Surely the author had some reason to believe that it wouldn't be required, but there was no evidence in the statement that it will be.
10-10-2008 @ 1:09PM
BrokenMonkey said...
Then why pose the question in the first place at the beginning of the post? Surely the author had some reason to believe that it wouldn't be required, but there was no evidence in the statement that it will be.
10-10-2008 @ 12:53PM
MikeB said...
Probably bringing in Windows Live services like Live Mesh. We all know they are announcing cloud-based OS initiatives this month at the PDC so it makes perfect sense to bring it to the console/entertainment realm.
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10-10-2008 @ 12:55PM
I DeX I said...
What about additional Themes and Avatar Skins? Seems to me all of the new fancy 3D themes would take up a bit of space? What about all of the pictures associated with the games you are playing that are part of the selection screen on the new NXE? Where are they stored?
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10-10-2008 @ 1:12PM
Phawx said...
Online Storage!
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10-10-2008 @ 1:13PM
echoraven said...
Heck why not enable the 360 to use a USB hard drive? Doesn't Microsoft already get $$$$ from manufacturers to display the Vista logo?
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10-10-2008 @ 1:32PM
Michael Paul said...
In short: 'piracy'.
Microsoft sold their collective souls to their Content Provider partners, and a USB hard drive could allow multiple users to access content only one of them paid for. Unless every nickle of IP value is carefully guarded, it's not allowed on a Xbox 360.
Sony, on the other hand, is making things like larger hard drives easier as time goes on, but so far I have no real incentive (and lately no spare funds) to buy a PS3...