HD nerds and Xbox fanboys,
the moment you've been waiting for: the
Xbox 360 Elite we alerted you about way back when it was just called the
Zephyr has finally been announced. As we previously mentioned, it will be black, it will have HDMI, and it will have a 120GB drive (it'll also come bundled with a one month Xbox Live trial) for $479. Unfortunately, also as mentioned before, it's not going to have the new 65nm CPUs, it still doesn't have integrated WiFi (Xbox said it's because a study showed the majority of their customers use Ethernet to connect -- huh?), and it won't have an integrated HD DVD drive (not that we expected otherwise). Microsoft did make some marketing decisions since our sources spilled the beans on this thing though: it's not going to be limited edition, as we previously had. Instead, the Elite will be a permanent SKU, the third and top-tier Xbox device. On the solo 120GB drive side of things, that unit will cost $179, and will come with a
cable and software to migrate from your old 20GB drive. (MSFT wasn't yet sure if that kit would be sold separately for new Elite users -- sounds like it will be though, and will be priced very reasonably.) More info:
- The console will come with component and composite cables, as well as an HDMI cable. (Take that, Sony and Apple!)
- The console will come with a black wireless controller and black (wired) headset.
- Sorry, the new black controller still doesn't have backlit buttons -- don't let the pic fool you.
- The black controller, black rechargeable batteries, black headset, and black Play & Charge kit will all be available in retail for the same price as the white gear.
- The HD DVD drive will not be released in black.
- Xbox didn't know what HDMI version the Elite uses, nor whether it supports PCM 5.1, TrueHD, etc.; it will obviously support 1080p, though.
- Sorry, no price cuts on the Premium or Core packs.
- Xbox Live Marketplace will also begin vending content from New Line, Paramount, and Universal (and their properties).
It's out April 29th in the US and Canada, people. Ready for your second Xbox? No? Well, it's still cheaper than that other black game console.
Update: Added more pics; also, Major Nelson has
live hands-on pics, too.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
BloodFalcon @ Mar 28th 2007 12:33AM
RANKINGS DON'T MEAN ANYTHING TO ME.
If you claim the 360 is seriously flawed and MS is milking gamers like cow teets - you get blasted by MS fanboys.
If you claim the 360 is all there is to life - and the PS3 sucks cause "Bluray isn't great" or "the controllers dont vibrate", you get attacked by PS fanboys.
I'm not a fanboy - I'm a consumer. I want the best bang for my buck. I got both of the systems and I love both of them. WHAT I DO NOT ENJOY is the feeling I'm paying $60 per game and top dollar for cheap chinese made accessories JUST BECAUSE...
$100 for a wireless G wifi adapter? IS MS INSANE? Its not even 802.11N - Its 802.11G CMON.
oki @ Mar 28th 2007 12:04AM
this might match with my ps3 with 1080p pleasure
Brenten @ Apr 14th 2007 8:58PM
wow....... get a normal 360 399.99
black spray paint 5 dollars
bigger harddrive a lot....... dont buy a new system just buy black spraypaint..... btw who would pay for something that lies.... keeping ur world wireless weres the wireless wifi at????? and headset????? huh u tell me that
Britt @ Jul 25th 2007 3:00AM
Many times it depends on your tv as to how good of quality the picture is. That is why i think most of us will not notice a difference between the 360 elite and the ps3. Check this out for comparison.... http://www.360Elite4free.com/index.php?ref=3959568
GO GET ONE!!!!!
Dustin @ Mar 28th 2007 12:05AM
Wondering if Microsoft has a trade-in program?? TAKE MY WHITE ONE PLEASE! Drooling for black 120G HDMI glory..
Bootes @ Mar 28th 2007 12:08AM
Personally, I think the 360 looks much better in white. Also 120gb for $179! Are they crazy? I can get 500gb HDs for much less than that. At least this means that they'll have to allow HDs larger than 20gb now so the hacks to install a larger HD will actually be useful.
Kenny @ Mar 28th 2007 12:08AM
Screw this. I've been waiting to replace my loud, overheating 360. Now, for only $480 I can replace it with a loud, overheating BLACK 360. Or, I can buy a 120GB hard drive for only about $120 more than the drive itself.
BloodFalcon @ Mar 28th 2007 12:11AM
I am HURT to see Microsoft revise this system so quickly - having bought my Pro Bundle last week Saturday.
Why o' Why does this "ELITE" not include Wifi?
I have to spend $100 for a chinese made $10 wifi adapter?
WHY O' WHY does it not include the wireless headset? or perhaps...the play charge kit? Even better - throw in the DVD remote?
Why o' Why does it not include backlit buttons so I can know just what the hell I am pushing in the dark?
If I had been a MS employee, I would have made the ELITE a solid $500.
For $500 you'd get the system, the HDD, the remote, the wifi controller, the wifi adapter (built in) the wifi headset and the play&charge kit.
Though my PS3 doesn't have any spectacular killer apps (YET), at least I take pride knowing that my PS3 has way more connectability and advanced technology (bluetooth & BluRay, WIFI and internet browsing).
Dan @ Mar 28th 2007 8:14AM
How can you be hurt when everyone knew the Elite was on the way? We practically had the full spec list.
Chris @ Mar 28th 2007 6:52AM
The 360 has been out for two years...Microsoft doesn't care that you just bought one last saturday. It your fault for having waited two years!
Juan @ Apr 16th 2007 3:26PM
The People that recently bought there xbox, return it get ur money back and wait until april 29 and get the new system. Most big chain stores allow a 30 day return policy. I advice to hurry up and return it before u luck out.
Pete @ Apr 26th 2007 7:22AM
If your PS3 is so great, why did you buy a 360 LAST WEEK?!? That seems like a really stupid or desperate move after spending $600 on a system... So which are you, desperate or stupid?
Why the hell do you need to see what buttons you are pushing? Do you spend your time looking at the controller and not the screen? If you play in the dark why the hell would you want lights right up in your face? You turned out the lights to set a mood and now you want controllers that ruin your mood...
You might be proud of the way your ps3 connects to the internet but how about the content? In this respect the 360 trumps ps3 and in the end, no matter how you connect, content is most important...
scottstrash @ Mar 28th 2007 12:14AM
and as i notice it - on the xbox website, for the controller it says "wireless revolution" and "a life without wires" yet, they dont feel the need to include wireless internet? i'm mostly sure that anyone and everyone with a wii, or a ps3 AND a wireless router will not use a cable. (espeically considering) most people dont have their router (wireless or not) sitting in close proximity to what ever room may contain their HDTV.
paul34 @ Mar 28th 2007 12:15AM
I still think it would've been better called the "Xbox 360 l33t"
Jake @ Mar 28th 2007 12:17AM
Wow if you add wifi and an hd dvd, this thing is more expensive than a ps3. That's a freakin' joke.
Nick @ Apr 6th 2007 12:13AM
thats what ive been saying all along, even for the premium 360, ps3 is A BETTER DEAL for what you get!
Bootes @ Mar 28th 2007 12:17AM
After reading BloodFalcon's comment I remembered that I didn't complain about WiFi as well. This was definitely the worst decision they made. $100 for their USB G adapter? The console should have it built in. I bought a nice little G adapter for my 360 off Newegg. It can be used as a router if I wished and can use USB for electricity. Sadly they stopped carrying it but $15 > $100 any day.
BloodFalcon @ Mar 28th 2007 12:25AM
WHAT 802.11G adapter do you use for your 360?
I have a wireless router in my home and I want to add my 360 to it. I heard that you must either buy a wireless Ethernet bridge - or the 360 game adapter itself.
What is the best, cheapest solution?
Matt @ Mar 28th 2007 12:18AM
Does anybody at MS consider the fact that maybe the majority use ethernet to connect our 360s because we don't want to spend freaking $100 on their wifi adapter? Come on, guys, use your heads.
DangerousHippo @ Mar 28th 2007 9:08AM
Or because a wired connection is less prone to packet loss, and therefore better for gaming.
The assassin @ Mar 28th 2007 12:19AM
why ms why more money,
Sam @ Mar 28th 2007 12:21AM
When it gets the 65nm CPUs I'll get it.
Dannnn @ Mar 28th 2007 12:24AM
$479 Xbox 360 Elite +$199 HD DVD drive at Best Buy
$679???
How is this cheaper than a 60gb PS3 w/BRD @ $599?
Why isn't everyone bitching about the even higher price of the Elite?
sycks @ Mar 28th 2007 10:04AM
Cuz that would be like asking for a fair and balanced discussion on the internets...
Not gonna happen
XxESKIMOxX @ Mar 29th 2007 11:15PM
one the hd dvd isnt 200 its 100.
second not everybody wants a hd dvd player or a blue ray player
3 majority of us dont have hd tv and xbox as of right now at least so far ive seen have better games and a heck lot better online service.
Jeffrey @ Mar 28th 2007 11:50PM
there's this thing called logitech playlink. here's a review site for it: http://console.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTE2MSwxLCxoY29uc29sZQ==
it's perfect for playing games. doesn't have any lag, but if you want to download demos that's another story...
Simon @ Mar 28th 2007 4:01PM
there is a Linksys wireless G gaming adapter at Best Buy for $80, but I got it for $50 on sale. Either way still cheaper then the MS Wifi and you can use it for any gaming devise, not just XBOX.
Andir3.0 @ Mar 28th 2007 12:27AM
Halo 3
----------
System Requirements:
XBox360 Elite (recommended, you fools! it has HDMI! Your other wimpy system is no match! Microsoft is your master. Give us more money.)
Meanwhile... You get the PS3 with a high density optical drive (20G+ more per disk!), standards based communication protocol (bluetooth) and standard HD bay (SATA 2.5" drive) for only $20 more. And you won't have to pay the Microsoft tax to upgrade your accessories if you don't want to. (I'm looking at you proprietary wireless and disk drive!) Plus you can plug in an external hard drive to the PS3 and put whatever the hell sized hard drive on it to store more stuff seamlessly. Can you honestly say to yourselves that this is a good deal? It still has the crap-tastic processor that is known for it's heat and red rings of death. It's just packaged in a different color with a bigger hard drive. And Microsoft doesn't know what standard the HDMI is? I'm glad they know what they are selling. Ooh, it's black!
Ah, there is is 360 fanboys ...you see it over there on the right side, that big red minus button. Hit it! Do it now! You love the red minus...
icruise @ Mar 28th 2007 12:28AM
Honestly, this 20GB (if you can find one) looks a lot more attractive than this. You get a Blu-ray player for $20 more! Yeah, the 360 has a lot better games, but that's just temporary.
I like the 360 as a system, but I can't help but think that this is not the way to go.
Kirk Williams @ Mar 28th 2007 8:41AM
Dude, stores in Northern Virginia can't even get rid of the PS3's they have in stock. Most stores that I've been store have 5 or more of each version.
icruise @ Mar 28th 2007 12:29AM
Err, I meant to say the 20GB PS3 looks a lot more attractive...
Matt @ Mar 28th 2007 12:37AM
Ok i am with you on the whole wifi thing that is pretty fucked up. I would just go but a cheap usb adapeter from best buy or something
Achille @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:50PM
hey wassup, if i bought another wireless adapter and not the 360 one, would it work on my 360 flawlessly?
Achille @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:49PM
hey do u think if i bought a wireless adpater from bestbuy or whatever it would work on my 360?
Colin @ Mar 28th 2007 12:38AM
I've been on the fence re Xbox or PS3.
I've had PS since the first one and thought it natural that I would get a PS3 but have been contemplating the Xbox as it had the 'mo' and with sketchy backwards compatability I thought I might make the change.
With the pricing on this I see that the PS3 actually is a decent deal and you can get the 60GB at Sony Style (Sony's store) for $499. So for $20 and the cost of a HDMI cable ($10) I can get Blu ray and Wireless and upgrade my HDD later.
Still going to wait a bit longer but right now I'd have to say I'm swaying back to the PS3.
Aero @ Jun 7th 2007 12:39AM
i know what you mean, ive had Playstation since day 1. then ps2 aswell. the problem for me came that alot of the games i wanted on xbox i couldnt get on ps2, but games i liked on ps2 i could get on xbox.
but the big thing for me was ive had 5 different playstations and every the laser craped out!! whats up with that!! the last time it happened it was a new slim ps2 and it happened twice in 6 months. so im sick of sony crap. i brought a Xbox 360. it mite not be as great or whatever but it still works! my playstation probably would of broke again by now!
T-Will @ Mar 28th 2007 12:40AM
Please let this mean more people will be selling their Premium systems for cheaper for me to buy. :-)
Heriberto Lopez Jr. @ Mar 28th 2007 12:41AM
$479 and no Wi-Fi...you've got to be kidding me
Net Civilian @ Mar 28th 2007 12:42AM
Remember Remember the 15th of November. And the color BLACK.
The original XBOX was released on 15th of november in black. I think this is going to be one more XBOX that is going to be dead.
Why Microsoft are you trying to piss me off I bought a 360 a month ago.
joe @ Mar 28th 2007 12:43AM
my bday is on the 29th....anyone want to get me a bday present...haha
Zadillo @ Mar 28th 2007 12:46AM
For the people complaining about the price, and comparing it to the price of a 500GB drive, for example; the Xbox 360 hard drive is one of those 2.5" drives, which are more expensive (check the price of the Western Digital 120GB Passport portable drive, for example). Compared to the price of other 2.5" drives, it isn't so terrible.
h0mi @ Mar 28th 2007 12:48AM
It does not appear to be a limited edition version but rather a permanent SKU.
Mike @ Mar 28th 2007 12:56AM
Too bad it wont sell. Why would anyone want a second Xbox360? Anyone who currently wants a 360 is probably waiting for a price drop, not a higher price, a bigger hard drive, that wont be filled, and graphics that wont that much better than the current 360.
kingofwale @ Mar 28th 2007 1:01AM
3 Ways to help Microsoft win the console War..
1... Include HD-DVD drive in the Elite.. free of charge (so you can truly claim that PS3 is over-priced)
2... Give people the free wifi please. and a safer 65nm process
3... for god sake, LOWER the bloody price already.
Deezee @ Mar 28th 2007 1:04AM
I'm not a fan boy. I dont even have an xbox. But this thing looks REALLY good.
Mike @ Mar 28th 2007 1:07AM
i'm not big into these arguments but just thought I'd try to point something out. I own both the ps3 and the xbox360+hd-dvd. I bought the ps3 for a blu-ray movie player so i bought the dvd-remote and one movie, it cost me 700$ with tax. I happened to have an extra hdmi cable so I saved 20$ from not having to buy one on amazon. Now we have the xbox360 elite for 479+199 for hd-dvd drive, which includes a movie (albeit not the greatest movie) and a remote. (also the xbox 360 works with my harmony remote, ps3 doesn't) And it includes an hdmi cable. So you can give 700$ to microsoft and get everything but some form of wireless internet connection or you can give 700$ to sony and get a ps3 with a 60gb hard drive and an incompatible (with all other remotes) albeit superior remote control, and no hdmi cable.
Right now I would say xbox 360 is a better deal because you get force feedback controllers and you can use double AA batteries and don't need to buy a usb extension cable to use your ps3 out of the box (unless you don't mind sitting 6 feet from your tv). Also currently the game selection for my style of games is better on the xbox 360 but I imagine some day they will be pretty even.
I tried to be as rational as I could in the comparison of the two systems trying to point out that both end up costing almost the exact same in the long run and even in the short run. so all the arguments on cost when comparing systems with high definition movie capabilities are a little unnecessary.
Mike @ Mar 28th 2007 1:24AM
HD DVD isnt doing so well compared to blu ray. So if you think about the next few years, the XBox might not be the best choice for hi def movies.
Jamie @ Mar 29th 2007 8:57AM
Only one problem with your points mike, some people, like myself, like things being minimalistic. In other words, I do not want a box with wires linking to another box (that's a different color!) that has a usb thingy sticking out of it. The ps3 has everything built in. I love that. Microsoft had a chance to converge everything, they failed. I can only guess that it is to keep the window open to still nickle 'n' dime us to death.
Marc @ Mar 28th 2007 1:09AM
ugh.....iptv?
jeff @ Mar 28th 2007 1:09AM
does anybody know when microsoft will finally start using the 65 nm processors?
i heard it got pushed back to q2/3 but i wasnt entirely sure.
i think im going to pick up a premium when they start using the 65s, because what will 79 more dollars get me besides hdmi? the ability to buy more premium content.