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Xbox 360 S 250GB hard drive available ... right now
If you already want a hard drive for that 4GB Xbox 360 S you bought, you could wait patiently for Microsoft to announce the accessory ... or you could just go to Gamestop and buy one. Reader Iain informs Joystiq that he spotted the 250GB hard drives for the redesigned Xbox in his local store -- and they're also available on GameStop.com right now. (We couldn't find the item being offered by any other retailer yet.) Of course, the $130 price for the drive completely obliterates any savings you might temporarily enjoy after buying the $200 4GB model (or the upcoming Kinect bundle), but it sure beats a mountain of USB flash drives. [Thanks, Iain]
250GB Xbox Kinect bundle spotted on 4GB bundle packaging
Although the bundle has yet to be announced, a 250GB Xbox 360 / Kinect bundle can be seen on Microsoft's Australian packaging for the 4GB Xbox 360 / Kinect box. The 250GB bundle appears to be very similar to the matte 4GB bundle, with the exception of the larger capacity hard drive, a glossy finish, and the inclusion of a headset. It isn't clear what game comes with the bundle, though it's most likely Kinect Adventures, the standard offering in both the standalone Kinect package and the 4GB Xbox bundle. The 250GB model also has the following note: "Hard Drive includes game and demos." The demos we're used to, but it seems that Microsoft may be foregoing an extra disc and putting the pack-in game on the hard drive itself. We're following up with Microsoft for more details, pricing and – yes – international release plans. Update: Microsoft's official response to Joystiq: "We have nothing to announce at this time."
Joyswag: Xbox 360 Slim, 250GB version
[Update: We've got a winner! Congrats to @drfloppyphd for his RT.] When Microsoft announced it was giving everyone present at its E3 press conference a gratis Xbox 360 Slim, we told you to expect to see our units up for grabs shortly thereafter. Sure, it's been a little longer than we'd have liked, but we're finally set to give these things away. We're starting today with a simple, Twitter-flavored giveaway. It's easy: Retweet our tweet about the Joystiq iPhone app video tour Not sure how to retweet? Watch this helpful video Feel free to include a message with your retweet (we really want more reviews!) Example: "You really should download (and review!) the new Joystiq app! RT @joystiq Video tour: Joystiq app for iPhone, iPod Touch http://bit.ly/cqYmVE" You have until 7pm ET tomorrow, Thursday July 29 At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive a 250GB Xbox 360 "Slim" (ARV $300) You must be 13 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec) Limit 1 entry per person For a list of complete rules, click here Keep your eyes out for more chances to win of of our two remaining Slims in the coming weeks. What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. For more info on our policy, click here.
Report: $400 Halo Reach Xbox 360 bundle on the way [update: confirmed!]
Ars Technica is reporting that Microsoft is on the verge of announcing a Halo: Reach Xbox 360 hardware bundle. The $399.99 package will contain a silver version of the new Xbox 360 S (equipped with a 250GB hard drive), a copy of the game (of course!) and two wireless controllers. The bundle was detailed by -- who else? -- the Ars Mole and would likely be released alongside the various retail editions of the game on September 14. Further evidence of the Reach-branded hardware comes by way of Joystiq reader "killer rin," who sent us a link to this Xbox.com page (now removed), which had advertised a Reach-themed controller (captured above) for $60. The controller appears to reflect the design suggested in Ars' report. Update: Microsoft has announced the bundle. See glamour shots and find all the details here!
Discounted original Xbox 360s outsold new 'S' model in June
Microsoft enjoyed a "significant sales spike" for Xbox 360 hardware in June, but according to Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter, discounts on the original version of the Xbox 360 may have had more to do with driving consumer excitement than the new model. 40 percent of Xboxes sold in the US last month were new "Short" systems, Pachter told investors in a report (summarized by GamesIndustry.biz), with $150 Arcade systems accounting for another 35 percent. That leaves various bundles, also discounted by $50, as the other 25 percent of the month's sales. "It is clear that the sales spike for the 360 was largely temporary, as clearance items accounted for around 60 per cent of total sales," Pachter concluded, "and it is not clear that software attached heavily to these purchase." Those discounted Xboxes would account for an even higher percentage by volume!%Gallery-95601%
Crackdown 2 holds on to top UK sales spot; Xbox 360 S has solid launch
Crackdown 2 just barely held off Dance on Broadway last week to maintain the top spot on the UK all formats chart for a second week in a row. According to Chart-Track, "Orb Collector 2" sales dropped 36 percent and only sold about 800 units more than Ubisoft's show tune-themed Just Dance successor (the original Just Dance retained a supporting role in the ten spot). Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 and Red Dead Redemption each slipped one spot to third and fourth, respectively. The lone new entry in the top ten was Disney's Toy Story 3 in fifth place. In hardware sales, although Chart-Track didn't reveal specific numbers, the Xbox 360 Slim (or Short) enjoyed the UK's most successful launch for a "revised" console. The redesigned console surpassed the relaunches of both the PS2 and PS3 slim models and, in its opening weekend, matched the regional launch figures of the Pro and Core Xbox 360 SKUs from back in late 2005.
Video: Xbox 360 data transfer and YOU
With the release of the newly redesigned Xbox 360, we're sure more than a few Xbox gamers have been considering an upgrade. With that upgrade comes a very important question: How do you get your data off the old Xbox and onto the new Xbox? To answer this question, we decided to put together a helpful how-to video. The video covers two methods of transfer: USB drives and the official Microsoft data transfer cable. Of course, this is a very important subject for Xbox owners, so rather than shoot the video ourselves, we farmed it out to a real production studio to give it that professional touch. We think the results speak for themselves.
Xbox 360 '4GB Arcade System Bundle' spotted on Amazon Germany
Amazon's German site has listed an "Xbox 360 4 GB Arcade System Bundle" (link is valid as of this writing) for pre-order, which could possibly be the cheaper Xbox 360 "slim" hardware that Microsoft has said is coming sometime this fall. The "4GB" in the title implies that this Arcade version has 4GB of storage included, either as NVRAM or in the form of a USB flash drive. (The soon-to-be-obsolete Xbox Arcade only has 512 MB of NVRAM.) The price is listed as €148.99 ($189), which is slightly lower than the $199 Microsoft told us, not to mention that "bundle" suggests it will include a game -- or maybe something Kinect-related. Then there's the street date, which Amazon has down as August 20, 2010. While that confirms nothing (as retailers are notorious for playing fast and loose with release dates), we will draw attention to this: That's smack dab in the middle of Gamescom 2010. Shades of Microsoft's E3 revelation of the new Xbox 360 and that it was shipping immediately? Stay tuned.
Microsoft claims 'unprecedented demand' for new Xbox 360
Although Microsoft didn't provide specific sales figures (per usual), the company claims it's seeing "unprecedented demand" from retailers for its new Xbox 360 console. In a statement released following May's NPD results, Microsoft claimed a "significant sales spike" for its new Xbox 360 250GB "short" model, along with its older Arcade and Elite units (which both received a $50 price reduction). The new console hit US store shelves around June 14. As for the sales spike's impact on the June NPDs (which will be released next month), Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter stated in his analysis of May's results: "We think that the boost in June hardware sales could allow June software sales to approach flat, notwithstanding a lackluster release schedule." %Gallery-95126%
Colorware jazzes up your new Xbox 360
No need for a fanciful new HDTV? Not even a new Segway? There's some colorful home entertainment gear for you yet. The famed gadget painting company just announced that Microsoft's shiny new Xbox 360 is the next to go under the gun, with near limitless color options waiting to be splashed onto each and every panel. If you managed to already pick one up, Colorware's charging $175 for the send-in option; if you're looking to buy new, that'll cost you at least five Benjamins. But hey, that's nothing for the satisfaction of owning a game console that's part orange, part lime green and part purple, right?%Gallery-96800%
New Xbox 360 250GB review
When we first saw its face in a Italian ad, more than one Engadget editor called its bluff: "The top half doesn't line up with the bottom," some said, "that's got to be Photoshopped." While that early image was indeed CG, the form factor was certainly not -- the new Xbox 360 sports enough sleek angles and disappearing curves we've taken to calling it the Stealthbox. As mother always told you, though, it's what's inside that counts; does that glossy exterior house any improvements, or is it hiding just another Xbox? Find out after the break.
New Xbox 360 shuts down before overheating
Okay, gang, we really need your help. Though Microsoft's shrunken, Valhalla-equipped version of its home console was announced last week, new functions of the device are just now starting to surface. The latest is an auto-shutdown feature which turns off the console when its primary cooling vent is blocked, which displays a warning prompt on screen and turns the console's power button into the ominous vision seen above. So, here's what we need your help with: We feel like we can still get in front of this thing, and coin the new colloquial phrase for this warning. That guy who came up with "Red Ring of Death?" He's making bank off royalties, and papa wants a slice. So, let's start spitballing: Red Eye of Danger? Red Dot of Poor Ventilation? Red Light of Uncomfortable Proximity? How about, like, "The Killswitch?" It's foreboding, yet strangely catchy.
New $199 Xbox 360 coming this fall
A Microsoft representative has confirmed to Joystiq that a $199 version of the new "short" Xbox 360 will be available this fall. Kotaku recently reported on a retailer document revealing the cheaper version of the console, along with a SKU containing both the new Xbox system and Kinect. Microsoft declined to comment on the Kinect bundle or offer any further details of the $199 model (beyond the price and release window). At least we now know that Microsoft isn't crazy and hasn't completely given up on having a $199 Xbox 360 to pit against the Wii. It also makes sense that a $199 "Arcade" version would be on the way, given that retailers like Amazon still refer to the new 250GB model as the "Elite." %Gallery-95126%
New Xbox 360 has red dot of death, instead? Not quite
RRoD may be gone by omission, but that doesn't mean your new Xbox 360 won't occasionally give you the evil eye. Case in point: this 250GB unit spotted over at NeoGAF, which has a red dot smack dab in the center of the power button. What message is it trying to convey? Find out after the break.
Visual comparison of Xbox 360 and Xbox 360 'Slim,' er, 'Short'
We know what the technical differences are between the original Xbox 360 and the Xbox 360 "Slim," but on initial impression the new model didn't look much skinnier. Despite being seemingly equal at first glance, the side-by-side reveals the truth: the new Xbox just drank too much coffee as a kid. We may have been a bit quick in colloquially naming it the "Slim," perhaps we should have gone with Xbox 360 "Short." %Gallery-95601%
Xbox 360 slim 17% smaller than original, incapable of RROD-ing
A tipster sent us an info sheet on Microsoft's new slimmer Xbox 360. Of most interest to us was the spec sheet, with some notable highlights: support for Kensington Locks, and dimensions. According to these specs, the "new S console" is about 17% smaller than the original and also physically incapable of getting the red ring of death. No, that doesn't mean the console won't break -- instead, the Xbox 360 slim lacks a red "ring of light." If your console runs into some fatal error, expect it to flash green. Should we get ready to coin the GROD? [Thanks, B.!]
New Xbox 360 priced at €249.99 in Europe
While those lucky enough to find themselves in America can start hoarding new Xbox 360 consoles this week, folks in Europe are being forced to wait until July 16th. But hey, at least you now know how much it'll cost you when that fateful day arrives, right? Microsoft has just fessed up to a €249.99 ($305) MSRP for the Xbox 360 250GB, complete with WiFi and one of those Kinect-friendly auxiliary ports. In related news, Wired.co.uk is also reporting that the console will sell for £200 ($294) when it lands in Britain, but we're still waiting on the Big M to confirm that one.
Xbox 360 Arcade to eventually be replaced by $199 new Xbox 360; data transfer cable will be $20
Liking the form factor, but not the price? You could settle for an existing Xbox 360 Elite, Pro or Arcade, as we hear the introduction of the new Xbox 360 is being accompanied by a $50 price cut on existing units, but if your heart's set on that glossy black, there's a cheaper Stealthbox coming down the pike eventually. GameSpot reports a slim Xbox 360 Arcade successor will appear after the now-discontinued SKUs sell out for the same $200 as before. Not exactly surprising, but it's always nice to know. And if you've preordered your shiny new Xbox 360 but have a older unit at home, you're going to need a little something to move those profiles, avatars and game licenses over. Should you have an Elite (or if you've upgraded your hard drive) you might find the cable you need between your couch cushions, but on the off-chance your Xbox 360 Hard Drive Data Migration Transfer Kit hit the dumpster long ago, you're not entirely out of luck. The one-way, single-use device will retail soon for $20, a mere $5 more than what it costs at the Microsoft Store -- or $19 more than used cables fetch on eBay.
New Xbox 360 250GB now available for preorder at GameStop, Newegg and Amazon
We had our unboxing already, but you're just days away from yours -- the new Xbox 360 is now available for preorder at the likes of Amazon, Newegg and GameStop. $300 buys you the freshly-announced Stealthbox with 250GB of storage and built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, a Kinect-ready auxiliary port and enough vents to hopefully make RRoD a thing a thing of the past. We'd tell you to read our early impressions and perhaps wait for our full guide, but if you've read this far you know what you want -- the preorder details -- and you'll find them three times over at our source links.
The new Xbox 360 now available for pre-order on Amazon
With the announcement of new hardware, there are always the subsequent cries of, "Dude, when can I has?" Well, you can has soon (like, tomorrow), as Amazon has opened a pre-order page for Microsoft's shiny, slimmed down Xbox 360 console. As previously stated, the console refresh will set consumers back $299 and comes packed with a 250GB HDD and built-in Wi-Fi. If you're on the fence about adopting a shiny new console, then check out our HD unboxing video and our gallery of stills below. We've always found that staring at glossy, expensive electronics helps us make life's most difficult decisions. %Gallery-95140%
