Microsoft announces new Xbox 360 bundle for the holidays

Well, it looks like that rumored new Xbox 360 bundle we heard about way back in August was right on the mark, as Microsoft has now officially announced that the console will soon come bundled with both Forza 2 and Marvel Ultimate Alliance at no added cost. Those freebies will find their way into both the $350 Premium console and the $450 Elite console, with each expected to be available by the end of October. That date would certainly coincide nicely with the rumored release of the budget-priced Xbox 360 Arcade console, although Microsoft apparently isn't quite ready to get official with that just yet.

[Jamie @ Oct 8th 2007 11:45AM]

Sad. Just sad.

[stianh @ Oct 8th 2007 12:24PM]

Yes, you are.

[AttilaButurla @ Oct 8th 2007 12:42PM]

Do free games make you sad?

[Leon Eng @ Oct 8th 2007 1:22PM]

Eh it is what it is and my favorite scene is when he yells out "This is Sparta"!!!!!

[Zadillo @ Oct 8th 2007 11:45AM]

I have to say, that's pretty nice for the Elite. I already have an Xbox 360 Premium. As it is, I actually would like to buy both those games, and I would like to upgrade from my 20GB HD to the 120GB HD. But to actually buy those items would be $300; at that point, it almost seems like one might as well buy the new Elite package. Not actually going to do that, but it seems like a pretty nice value.

[MrFuNKy76 @ Oct 8th 2007 11:47AM]

RRoD

[Todd @ Oct 8th 2007 11:47AM]

You guys forget Black Friday is the end of November.
Hello 20% Off Coupons ^_^

[Tom Hellier @ Oct 8th 2007 11:49AM]

Mircosoft?

How many SKU's does microsoft have at the moment.

Also, whats the deal with marvel ultimate alliance, Whats wrong with including 2 AAA titles?

[gatorade @ Oct 8th 2007 1:53PM]

it has 4 SKU's

Core
Premium
Halo3 (which i dont know if it counts as an SKU since ya know)
Elite


TBH not that bad.

[chris fredette @ Oct 8th 2007 11:50AM]

Is it quieter and can I run it in a cabinet?
Are two RROD's I can't see getting another one until these things are fixed.

[josh @ Oct 8th 2007 12:24PM]

They included a new heat sync and drive a couple months ago that increased reliability (though the drive is still noisy), and rumors are that the new Falcon chip built on a smaller process is being phased in, which should further alleviate heat concerns that caused some of the reliability issues.

[David W. @ Oct 8th 2007 2:01PM]

mfed3...are you naive? People are still having lots of problems...including me...

and I would call myself a 360 fanboy...and would never touch a ps3 unless maybe they gave it to me...

[chris fredette @ Oct 8th 2007 2:06PM]

just venting. I'm waiting until I can 100% get a quieter box that runs cooler. I follow the forums but nothing is for sure. The 65nm chips will be a good first step but a jet plane DVD drive is a deal breaker. I will then be assuming the RROD will be gone. Just a hope of course.
I got rid of the HD-DVD player because the system was way too loud to watch a movie.

[chris fredette @ Oct 8th 2007 2:23PM]

mfed: well since you asked. I got my first xbox in April, 6 months after launch. It died 11 days later with almost no use. I had it on the floor near nothing. Then I got a replacement that lasted about 8 months. Again light use and not near anything that would make it hotter. Then my current 3rd one got the RROD again but then recovered. So I'm crossing my fingers this will be fixed soon.
I have a PS3 and a wii too and every system since pong(I have 2 pongs too). The PS3 is something of a turd as most of the games and the controller are worse than xbox but it is a quiet, durable, movie player.

[charles @ Oct 8th 2007 12:02PM]

Hmm well I bought my elite less than a month ago... so do I return it and jump through all the hoops to get these games? Forza 2 I would never play, but I hear MUA is kinda like God of War which would be fun.

I doubt I'll do it. Halo 3, the Orange Box, and other top quality new releases are using up too much of my time to be bothering with this shit.

[JDizzle @ Oct 8th 2007 12:08PM]

Hmm, may actually be enough to get me to buy a 360. Maybe if they bundled it with Halo 3 too :P. Well if I do buy it I'm not sure I'll be spending much time with it with The Orange Box, Crysis, and a shizer-load of great looking games coming out on the PC.

[Flit @ Oct 8th 2007 12:55PM]

Hooray for $10 Forza and Marvel UA at the local used game store!

Who the Eff is Mircosoft?

[rTwelve @ Oct 8th 2007 1:03PM]

They're making the 360-BOXX. It has 14 GB of storage and plays Enhanced Versatile Disc. It's competing with the Vii this holiday season.

[Donger @ Oct 8th 2007 1:24PM]

You can hook it up to your Sorny HDTV and Panaphonic 5.1 surround system.

[timatl @ Oct 8th 2007 1:51PM]

correction. from EB Games website

Forza 2 = $49.99 used
Marvel UA = $24.99 used

[sitruc @ Oct 8th 2007 1:47PM]

Good catch. It's still m-I-R-C in the title bar. For some reason I read it as merc and thought MS was going to kill the 360...

[Snwbrds2922 @ Oct 8th 2007 2:27PM]

I'll just stick to my Wii.

[JeffnLA @ Oct 8th 2007 2:36PM]

If the elite as the falcon 65nm chip - I'm in!

[sjanssen @ Oct 8th 2007 3:01PM]

Has there been an official announcement as to when the Falcon chip will be out? I'm more concerned with waiting for that than a few new games.

[phrank @ Oct 8th 2007 3:51PM]

Engadget posted something on this a few weeks ago. Several models have been outfitted with the new cips but there is no way of knowing what you are going to get when you buy one.

Other than that, it doesn't matter what chips you end up getting in your box. Granted the power savings is nice (if you can tell). But the over heating issues (rrod) had more to do with the GPU melting its sodering right off the board due to poor heat disipation. That issue has been fixed in newer models.

[Matthew Hilario @ Oct 8th 2007 3:23PM]

id hit it.

[Tim Ficke @ Oct 8th 2007 4:37PM]

Definatly makes the Elite worth it sense 2 games new at $60 a piece equals $120. So 100GB more hard drive fancy black case and controllers 2 free games.
Ya thats worth it!

[Eric Leung @ Oct 8th 2007 10:30PM]

It doesn't make the Elite any more worth it than the Premium since the Premium is also coming with the two games...

[AndrewP @ Oct 8th 2007 5:27PM]

Nintendo is good about offering new additions to current owners
http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/02/nintendos-free-wiimote-sleeve-keeps-it-sticky/

If this bundle shows true we can only hope that Microsoft will do the same.

[Andrew @ Oct 8th 2007 5:57PM]

I'm saving up for an Elite. This story is good news for me.
Now if there was another price drop...

[Marty @ Oct 9th 2007 9:15AM]

Wow, we're nitpicking a bundle... because NO OTHER CONSOLE HAS EVER DONE LAME BUNDLES FOR XMAS IN THE PAST. No... not MS. Not Sony. Not Nintendo. Not Sega. So let's just rip this one apart.

[3v1lkr0w @ Oct 9th 2007 9:22AM]

While i think its awesome that you get 2 free games with the system. Its still a slap in the face that the RRoD isnt fixed yet...but if i didnt already have a 360 this wouldnt make me go out and buy one. I mean i am happy with my 360 (im on #3), im not bad mouthing it, but they need to start adding good games with these systems. Not just Microsoft, but everyone. If they had better games, and maybe slightly increased the price, that would make me buy it. Like maybe 60 extra for 2 recent good games...instead of same price for 2 not so recent, and in my eyes, not so good game.

[Juna Duncan @ Oct 15th 2007 4:13PM]

I wish it was bundled with Halo 3 or Guitar Hero. I hope the Elite goes down in price before Christmas. I'm saving up.