Microsoft confirms new Xbox 360 Arcade systems are bumped to 512MB

There wasn't much doubt that Xbox 360 Arcade systems equipped with 512MB of on-board memory were now shipping, but Microsoft has now come out and confirmed as much to Eurogamer to put any last bit of doubt to rest. For those not familiar with the world of hard drive-less Xbox 360s, that's twice as much memory as before, although that of course doesn't mean all that space will actually be available to gamers. As Microsoft notes, "the Xbox 360 system software uses some of the included 512MB memory," so "less storage will be available to users." Of course, finding one of the newly-upgraded consoles will also be a bit hit and miss for the time being, but it's looking like any console manufactured after April will have the added boost.

[Via Joystiq]

[nvidiagtx @ Jun 18th 2009 3:00PM]

Thats good more value!

[GRAMMAR POLICE @ Jun 18th 2009 3:37PM]

Yeah, judging by today's prices for 512MB of storage space, this is at least 2 pennies worth of extra hardware!

[Nathan B @ Jun 18th 2009 4:31PM]

I bought a box of Pops today and it had an offer for a Star Trek 1GB flash drive, so 2cents is about right, considering of the $3 that flash drive is worth $2.98 goes to licensing Star Trek's IP.

[Sean @ Jun 18th 2009 7:10PM]

Yeah except you have to spend about $20 on cereal to get enough points to get that flash drive.

[Jimmy @ Jun 18th 2009 3:00PM]

I expect to see new dashboard updates that won't work on older systems...

[windblownmonkey @ Jun 18th 2009 3:05PM]

That's what the hard drive is for.
I guess any updates are welcome. Anyone who doesn't have a hard drive by now isn't really using their xbox too much anyway.

[jon @ Jun 18th 2009 3:04PM]

New New Xbox Experience?

[rush0 @ Jun 18th 2009 3:06PM]

Are they quiet?

[superhobo @ Jun 18th 2009 4:51PM]

I have one of these, and it's the NOISIEST flash memory I've ever used!

[Michael Flux @ Jun 18th 2009 3:09PM]

This must've cost them all of... 2 dollars per unit?

[Ellianth @ Jun 18th 2009 3:12PM]

And they didn't raise the price of the console, so what's your point?

[Michael Flux @ Jun 18th 2009 3:13PM]

Oh no point at all, just saying this could have been done back when the 360 was just released. Then it would have cost all of 5 dollars...

[Dr. Spaceman @ Jun 18th 2009 3:22PM]

Probably closer to 2 cents, and that's if it didn't actually lower the cost of production.

[pika2000 @ Jun 18th 2009 3:09PM]

The question is, how will consumers know? Will MS mark it on the box "Now with 523MB built-in" or something? I'm still trying to figure out how to easily determine which one is Jasper from the retail box.

[Templarian @ Jun 18th 2009 3:16PM]

You would consider buying a 360 without a hard drive... the people that would on the other hand probably wouldn't even notice anyway.

[digitallysick @ Jun 18th 2009 3:25PM]

So let me get this straight those that paid extra for an Elite system got the shaft and the new arcade gets more ram? wtf

[Matt @ Jun 18th 2009 3:27PM]

Hah, that's not ram, that's their harddrive.

You're safe with... what, 240 times more memory?

[John @ Jun 18th 2009 3:27PM]

Its not ram, it is internal storage which takes the place of Microsoft having to supply a memory card. This also allows them to require that the New Xbox Experience be downloaded for Live.

[El Capitaine @ Jun 18th 2009 3:42PM]

All Xbox 360 consoles have 512 MB RAM...this is 512 MB flash storage.

[Samunosuke Ode @ Jun 18th 2009 3:33PM]

Those internals look nice.

[Patrick @ Jun 18th 2009 3:35PM]

Do they still heat-up like ovens in a bakery in the middle of summer?

[ChazClout @ Jun 18th 2009 4:23PM]

Nice to see the Arcade is catching up with the Wii. Lets hope they add Wifi to the 360 soon!

[mattsgreat5 @ Jun 18th 2009 4:24PM]

i haven't ever seen the inside of the xbox but now i know how cheap Microsoft is. non solid caps? and it heats up that much? that must be one of the reasons it breaks so much. glad i have ps3

[bobartig @ Jun 18th 2009 5:42PM]

Pfft! Solid caps are better than electrolytic, but that's the least of an Xbox's worries. Electrolytics are still rated for thousands of hours of usage, much much longer than the typical XBox 360 will last.

[fikhl @ Jun 18th 2009 4:33PM]

You're most kind dear software giant!

[besi @ Jun 18th 2009 6:11PM]

360 is a f.. .joke.it just sitting in my e.center for months.im using my ps3 every day not for games but streaming and putting 1080p movies on my 320gig and 1tb hdd.360 is good for heating up the room and make some noise.but i live in vegas ,so its good for nothing.

[Kiv @ Jun 18th 2009 9:10PM]

lol
ps3 blows, noob

[besi @ Jun 18th 2009 9:55PM]

better than your imaginary girlfriend ,for sure!!! dude

[f14tomdog2 @ Jun 18th 2009 8:59PM]

WOW a Whole 512mb!!! Microsoft is really putting the cutting edge of technology into these things...

[Deputy Doffoos @ Jun 18th 2009 9:22PM]

So... I demand an explanation...

Why the F@&# doesn't the Wii include something like this?

[Deputy Doffoos @ Jun 18th 2009 9:26PM]

^^ By that I meant an UPGRADE to bump the already huge "disk" storage we already have

[kylelndbld @ Jun 22nd 2009 12:51PM]

this is great! More Grand Theft Auto!!!