Black Xbox 360 in late April for $479 - Dubbed the Xbox 360 Elite

Looks like Game Informer's black Xbox 360 rumor wasn't so much a rumor as it was a pending exclusive in their shiny mag. Of course, GI weren't the first outlet to whisper secrets about an elusive revision of the Xbox 360 -- actually, Engadget got pics of the console's (dubbed Zephyr) HDMI port, proving its existence. Now, GI's April issue has the deets.

[Maldread]

if it does turn out to be an april fools joke, it will defiantly be a good one hehe.

[FordGTGuy]

till it comes from Microsoft and Microsoft only.

[Retard]

Heheh, that has the be the most corny name I've ever heard of...

[BlackIceJoe]

I guess I will have to sell my old 360 I got on launch day and will get this one on Launch also. I think will be ever worse news for Sony seeing as they thought they would be the only company out there with the HDMI port. I wonder how long until Factor 5 will make games for the 360. The last time F5 was talking they said they almost made a 360 game but not having the HDMI port was the reason they did not and know that they will I guess we could see some really nice games from them.

I like my PS3 and 360 but the 360 really is doing well and like it or not people need to see Sony is doing stupid things. So if people only own a PS3 it might not be the smartest thing to own. I would say buy at least another system if not two.

So Microsoft I have got to hand it to you. You really are showing that you want to win this console race. Even though it will suck I will have to buy another 360 but that is how life is. After a few months/years better things come out.

[SmokeyMcBear]

don't worry... you'll be buying xbox720 in a couple of years.

[Rasputin2011]

But I shall not go buy another Xbox 360 just because it is Black.

[Tut]

The green/black combo is a lot better than the white/green combo. I definitely agree with you on that.

[Adamalicious]

My initial reaction was that this is an April fools joke - even though they're saying it isn't. I've always thought a black 360 was unlikely if only for the reason that the debug units are black and I would assume that would be so they could easily tell them apart from retail versions.

If it is true I think it's a mistake. Revising the hardware so significantly this early in can only be seen as acknowledging that the initial spec was inadequate i.e. hard drive too small (which it is IMO), no digital video output (again IMO on my brand new 1080p Samsung I can see a very clear difference between the PS3 outputting 720p over HDMI and the 360 outputting 720p over Component - I was pretty surprised by the difference).

I also think it unlikely that MS would revise the hardware in such a way that they would take an even greater loss per unit.

Just my opinion.

[power of Green]

What selling at a loss are you talking about?. Ms's a software for PC company and have a different point of view they see it as an option and have the buy what you want and need marketing style.

#4.2 WTF are you talking about NoW!, These console's are not simple Video game systems anymore If MS went Sony's route they would be loosing the war really bad. I rather buy my PC in peices than spend thousands of dollars at once, im sure many would agree.

Nothing wrong with an upgradable HDD or the option not to pay for an HD player when you don't have an HDTV. Your pitch gets old man you repeat that same old sh*t even though millions don't seem to mind the proof is the sales of the PS3 its almost like you care more than we do as if you own a 360 and we dont.

Still making a bid deal over XBL being $30-$50 a year lol millions seem willing and able to come up with $3-5 dollars a month. I bet you upcoming XBL updates will shut your ass up.

[DJ]

They don't seem to understand how the Console Market works, and have applying PC-market strategies to it. I wouldn't be surprised if they came out with a higher-spec 360 to make up for the things they left out originally. They haven't even sold 10 million 360s, so it's not like the systems are flying off shelves.

Optional Hard Drive ($100)
Optional HD Movie Playback ($199)
Optional Online Multiplayer ($50)

[Adamalicious]

By "selling at a loss" I mean that every time they sell a 360 they lose money. This strategy is fine at first to get an install base going, hoping to make it up on the back end through licensing fees (games). My point was that the idea is generally to reduce hardware costs over time so that eventually the hardware will be profitable - something MS was never really able to do with the first Xbox - hence it's truncated lifespan. Last I heard MS lost, all told, about $4,000,000,000 on the first Xbox, or roughly $200 for every Xbox they sold.

MS is the most cash-rich company in the world. So whether they can afford to eat these sorts of losses to be in the console gaming market isn't the question. The question is how much can they afford to lose and for how long.

And don't accuse me of being some hater while I'm trying to collect all the Agility Orbs in Pacific City. Just trying to look at things rationally.

[power of Green]

Hope it's true i decided when it launches i will be putting my Toshiba HD-DVD player in the closet untill i replace my other HDTV that uses HDMI only for PC's, or maybe i could hook it up to my 26" TheaterWide HD Toshiba CRT.

Great Idea for MS to give this option for HD-DVD add-on users and future IPTV users that want to use HDMI instead of Component and at the same time keeping the price down for folks that do not invest in HD-divices and services.

You POS of Sh*T! at least tell why you dissagree you fuc always attacking me.

MS said they were going to Add an HDMI enabled consoles(not saying how though) ages ago when the demand called for it. How in the fuc can you dissagree with me, these people have brain stormed this HD idea and had a vision for an HD console i doubt they over looked any! aspect of what makes HD look it's best and every future way to use it!, again how in the fuc do you dissagree?!.

#9 Get the hell out; you're only in here out of envy and to spite the 360.

[PS360WII]

My TV does have 2 HDMI ports. Have the PS3 hooked up in one so I think it would be pretty nice to also have the 360 hooked up with that. Leaving the component to Wii and cable ^^! Good stuff because I hate them dang switchers.

[OutLaw]

According to Kotaku a senior editor over at Game Informer, just dropped them a line to let them know that the story is in fact true. As a rule they don't post fake news stories in their April mag.

[THAMMER1]

i just hope I get same good $$$ for my current 360.

[Andronix]

Very nice. Hopefully this will will have an internal Hard Drive and the overheating problem sorted.I dont like the Ipod cream colour of the 360. So its a good thing MS are going back to the colour that real men like; Playstation black! ;D

One question though. MS killed of the xbox1 prematurely, Im worried about getting this new Xbox incase there will be another around the corner with an even more improved specification and hd-dvd.

[G_CodeMonkey]

Folks, no need to sweat. It won't be changing which games are playable--and you can jump for the 120g HD if needed, but my 20g is still working fine for me. And the HDMI isn't needed yet--component is fine for now. gCM

[Blasphemy]

From my understanding this has already been debunked.

[GTProwler]

I'm just gonna get it casue my xbox already kicked the can and I'm just waiting to see if this is really true

[likeaboss302]

That Toshiba didn't kick in a little money to get the HD DVD drive in there as standard. It would have helped them a lot in the next gen DVD war. Hopefully MS did put a wireless card in there. My white HD DVD drive is going to look bad enough.

[Grown Folks Talk]

since it's not for games.

[DJ]

so one would expect them to include the drive inside. It's not about whether the drive supports games. It all has to do with Sony's feature set and trying to compete against it. The only reason they have an HD-DVD add-on is to compete against the PS3's built-in blu-ray drive.

Sony's big advantage is the inclusion of HDMI and HD Movie Playback, and it only makes sense for Microsoft to play catch-up.

[Droidbro]

they have the optional hddvd drive and that's it. itegrating it into the console would be having a large stake. that's what they are trying to avoid until one or the other becomes the standard. obviously they support but not to that extent. it wouldn't be hard for them to drop hddvd.

[Columbo]

Microsoft's big advantage is their games. You can have your Blu-ray player, I'll go back to playing exclusive games on my console like Gears of War, Crackdown, Dead Rising, Viva Pinata, Lost Planet, Kameo, etc... Because when I purchased a video game console, I kind of actually wanted to do something like play games on it.

[Grown Folks Talk]

it makes no sense because you can use it without it being attached. why drive up the price of the system when it's still not the standard? with the PS3, even if the movie format went under, blu-ray is still used for the games. it doesn't affect sony the same way. a year from now if hd-dvd is obsolete, would you want to pay $100-$200 more for the 360 when that more expensive drive won't be utilized?

[nix]

you see.. right now it might seem like HD-DVD is not needed for games but if microsoft does not add (or provide) HD-DVD drive, HD-DVD might lose market share. so the sooner microsoft starts hardselling HD-DVD drives, the better. otherwise, next time microsoft comes out with newer machine, it will have to come out with bluray drive. now.. i don't think microsoft want to do that after clarifying that HD-DVD is the better choice. q:

[Grown Folks Talk]

because they already have skus and plan on taking reserves in the next 3 weeks or so.

[USMChardcharger]

as nice as this would be to own, most of the updated features will only benefit HD TV owners.

i would like a black xbox over the white one however...for me, this can be accomplished with a black face plate...way my set up is u don't really see the sides so...

doubt this is true though...

only way i could see this coming out, is if this is the version that will be distributed by whomever is delivering the IPTV service for M$. if you don't own a 360 already.

for those who do...maybe a larger harddrive will be distributed and you will not pay a monthly fee on the box itself.

but who knows...we don't that is for sure.

[soldier sean]

since my second 360 just died due to the 3 lights of death a couple of days ago , do you guys think that they will send me this new console or the old one? i think the old one but cant help but dream right? i feel kinda jipped , and kinda wished that the timing of this hardware failure wouldve been a month later , just so my chances of getting a zephyr unit wouldve increased. if not , itll be hard to get good money for this regular 20gb hdd xbox 360.
im tired of these xbox's failing on me , ive read some horror stories like mine but worse , there was some kid saying he was on his 7th console ! thats just bs. i really hope they send me that new zephyr just for that 65nn procesor.
peace.

[Donkey Slayer]

Not a good deal at all.

[Grown Folks Talk]

for $80 you get hdmi, an hdmi cable, and 100 gigs more hard drive space. i'd say that's pretty good. they are not going to include the hd-dvd drive unless they start using the format for games as well.

[The BS Police]

I've seen pics of this in OXM back in 2005, it is a Beta Dev kit.

[sabbath420]

I like MS stradegy. It's all about choice. I am glad to c a choice for people.

[f41c0n]

This is really coming out. The rumors have been around for months now, as well as the new specs. The image going around the net may be one of the Beta Dev kit, but that's because they don't have a real image of the new one yet.

Being black won't be the only difference. It's going to have a bigger HD, HDMI capabilities, a smaller nm processor, and one or two more things.

Now, I just have to decide whether I want to sell my 360 and buy this, or just try to buy the larger HD as an separate thing (HDMI doesn't really give much more quality than Component).

[RJ2000]

So when you add this new 360 and the other components you basically have the PS3 and the price of it too... congradulations.

But I have to hand it to MS because they are going to get away with it like they always do without losing any reputation (figures). And now since they released their system a year early they are spread out and and have more systems out there and thus are getting more exclusives so now of coarse Microsoft has to upgrade.. but always for a price. Business.

[gogators]

then I would still say that 479 is a reasonable price, but still more expensive than it should be. I would like one of my three 360's to have HDMI support. I would rather it be offered in the off-white color, but black is cool too. Hopefully this means a price drop for the premium model and I think it's good for MS to be offering this to those consumers who want it. I won't change how any of MS's 360 will play games and companies have every right to offer consumers something that they think consumers will want and buy.

[Rasputin2011]

Columbo-"Microsoft's big advantage is their games. You can have your Blu-ray player, I'll go back to playing exclusive games on my console like Gears of War, Crackdown, Dead Rising, Viva Pinata, Lost Planet, Kameo, etc... Because when I purchased a video game console, I kind of actually wanted to do something like play games on it"<--- This is the concept that 99.9% of Sony Fanboys(blasted Trolls)can not seem to grasp...and for the record "Nicely Done Columbo"

[Raziel McGee]

I guess those of us that buy a gaming system to play games on must be a small percentage... I guess corporate America really know what we want. And its not to play games with other people <tards>

[zonetrooper5]

The only thing that i want to be true is the bigger hard drive which would come with a cable of some sort to transfer alot of the stuff from the old 20GB hard drive to the new 120GB hard drive. Second, i hope this is not true seeing as its not needed, HDMI, Blue-Ray and HD-DVD are not needed for this generation of consoles. Plus, HDMI only improves sound not picture quailty, I'm using the VGA cable on my TV/PC at the moment and i'm playing the games in HD, 1080i or its 720p.

[Says you]

On another XBox 360 cause thats saying that Microsoft hated there
first 2 and decided to go with Sony's plan with a 3rd XBox 360 and this
one you wont be able to remove the harddive another XBox 360 isnt worth
buying its just a waste of money.

[DaTrooF]

just hope that red light dont show up.i'll be happier if a blue one appears.lol.

[Mikey_Gee]

.. smart !!

======
Why would any early adopters be pissed?? I have been getting hours and hours out of my LAUNCH 360 and must say that it is the best console to date I have had (starting way back with the Atari 2600). I mean after having a blast since Nov 2005, man oh man ... this machine has payed for itself 10 times over with beer and friends I have had great times with either at my house or over live !!

HDMI is nice, but my Sammy DLP and 1920x1080 over VGA gives me the exact same result.

"IF" my current 360 ever kicks out, sure I will get this version, but till then ... I am loving my 360 and am not pissed in even the smallest way.

[HaKeRsCanRotINHEL]

Was the article in the Game Inforcer section, if it was than its an April fools joke.

[BoneMagnus]

I checked out the mag last night - its entirely separate from the Game Infarcer section(which is hilarious BTW).

[MissAubrey]

.

[m23]

I have a premium xbox 360 right now, but I don't know what to do now. I want this new SKU but I'm not sure if I could trade it in. I have a 3 year warranty on my premium so is it possible for me to get a refund and then pay the difference? Its from future shop by the way, if any of you know, please tell me.

[XxZxX]

This is definately a joke. Microsoft aint that stupid to include 120GB and HDMI but no HD-DVD in $479. It will be $399, with the price-cut to the premium version to $299. When this happen, 20gb version seems to be the best deal of all. It's gonna explode. With this, it will force PS3 to drop their price to $100 in order to compete on both version.

[Bathyj]

Its not like I would have waited this long just to get this one. I would have liked the bigger drive though so thats a little disappointing. How about they charge $200 for a 120G but take 20G's for a $100 trade in. I would find that fair to their early customers.

On an interesting side note, my favourite colour is Red on Black (like blood on a black marble floor) so the new Xboxes will look really nice when they break down.

I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Geeze. ;)

[marionz]

it looks cheep and old, ill buy one anyway tho, the old one can go in the bedroom
all my home entertainment gear is silver so the black 360 will kinda look out of place

[ScorponokG1]

guys if you think about it, its really worth $479, doesnt matter if dont ahve wifi, but at least you get 120gig hard drive and and hdmi port possibly with cable, still better than what sony's lil stupid ps3 has to offer!!!! i will definitly be pickin this one up and putting the old one in my bed room.

[Mikey_Gee]

As luck would have it (or bad luck) my launch 360 just sh!t the bed on me tonight.

Fact is , I still love my 360 and have way to many games. It would be crazy for me to NOT get a new one. Now I really want to see the new console AND the drop in price on the premium.

Then again I could just get a Core and stick my HD on it !! VGA still give me full 1080p

[nix]

naw.. i'm not laughing at you.. but just found the situation funny. my sympathies, though.

[Lordimus]

I think many of you are missing the main point behind this new SKU. MS is making money on the 360. They lost money on xbox1 because they did what Sony is doing now and put out the most expensive box and never fully recouped on that investment. The 360 premium is actually making MS money from what I understand. That is why many places especially overseas sell it discounted or with a game included (because the retailers will still make some money and well all know a price drop is happening soon).

This new SKU is for IPTV that they announced back at the CES. With 120G of space a person can TIVO the shows they want to watch. This is just another model for people who want it all. There is no real difference between hdmi and component on MOST TV's. Not to say there isn't a difference when on a 70" 1080p monster. If you do have that kind of TV then you can just hook it up with VGA anyway and get a gorgeous picture as well. MS if focused on choice this time around and not on LOSS. I applaud them for giving me the option to get a different model if i want TV from them.
For those of you that are saying it's abusing the customer let's also look at PS3 *which i plan to buy when/if the price comes down*
There are many things that are optional for PS3 to buy as well, such as the WiFi if you don't have the $600 sku and the bluetooth ear and mic piece. Also if you want to take advantage of that 1080p they talk so much about you need to buy a HMDI cable. I would say both company's are even on that front.

[Funky Town_TX]

Someone agrees with me. The first xbox haad it all.

HDD
4 controller support
ethernet

What did it do? M$ lost billions. When people have choices they like it. Hardcore gamers what the latest and greatest. I just want to game. The prem works fine for me now.

[Mikey_Gee]

Sorry if I missed it (or just forgot) but since my release 360 died last night after working hard for me every day (still a bit pissed though) and I am in the market for a new 360 .. when is this one releasing again ??

Will also call my local EB to see if they have any info.

Cheers

[EaziG]

I guess they had to go with the best of the two, eh?

[MaximusPrime]

"join the dark side" said Emperor Sidious (with his glowing red eyes)
Microsoft would say the same.

Unfortunately, the sith fallen and i foresee Microsoft will be next.

[calderra]

Happy early April Fools' Day, everyone!
Thanks for playing.

[Devastator_oftheweak]

I can't wait to get my hands on this PS3....oh wait...oh its the 360, oh but its black now? has HDMI (its not necessary)? Wow...I....um, yeah, hmm how much money will MS suck from the sheep, I mean customer?

Black, HDMI,larger HDD....yeah copycat lol.

[Bullseye]

if this is true,or at least buy one, then eat it.Has Ms confirmed it? Didn't think so.However, if some of the talk is distracted from PS3 european launch, i'm sure Microsoft won't be to rushed to deny it.C'mon guys, if this is true it makes MS worse than Sony in my eyes.

[Says you]

Has alot more to offer than the 360 so considering call PS3 stupid
the only stupid system around here is 360 when it doesn't have nothing that much to offer except an online and lousy features like you have give points to just watch movies or tv show's that is really worthless and that goe's to show how really pathetic Microsoft is

and bladestar your a total dumbass the PS2 that is black was already out before XBox and your telling Sony copied the color black when the PS2 was way out so yeah that goes to show you 360 fans are retarded as ever and by the way the first Xbox never got a 720 you total retard only 480p and that was barely HD bladestar is such an extreme dumbass.

[overrated]

this was a gaming machine we cant have all these features it will not be a gaming machine ha ha. Ill be picking one up glad ive waited for the 360 :)

[Trickedbullet]

I plan on giving all my old Xbox 360 stuff to my bro as I am leaving for Marine Corps Boot Camp in January '08. By the time I get out of boot and MCT, I hope that the new 360 stuff is out so I can buy it all at once. Yay!! Once a gamer, always a gamer!

[caffman]

and stay safe buddy

[BIadestarX]

"Black, ..,larger HDD....yeah copycat lol"
Ohh yeah those fking copycat Sony turds. How dare they copy the original xbox which was black and had a HDD. Heck it was the first console to have HD gaming at 720!

As much as Sony fans hate to admit, not that I will buy this new SKU but the 360 now have the only thing that Sony kept flaming the console for, HDMI.

I will wait until they release it on white since I hate it on black. It will ruin my living room since everything is silver or white. If I ever get a PS3 I will plug it only when I am using it.

[Devastator_oftheweak]

Your a retard, XBOX also copied sony in the sense that the PS2 was black. Big whoop about your 120 GB hdd, sony gave us the option to upgrade to a MUCH larger HDD with the PS3. To sit there and say that Microsoft is great and Halo is god, is the most fking ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Show me something that MS has that is not cross platform, that is so damn great THAT IS NOT A FPS....

I own the 360 as well, don't plan on buying it in black, dont plan on buying their stupid HD-DVD add-on (after all Sega Genesis showed us what add-ons are good for, NOTHING ..i.e 32x, sega CD).

To those who diss the Sony online, know that they are in the infant stages of their online system, which is fine by me, cause I know they'll make it better. XBL took 4 years to get where its at, 4 YEARS. Sony has had their online network for 5 months. You can't call PS2 adapter online because it was just an internet gateway.

like I said I have both systems, and in my eyes the PS3 has much more potential than XBOX 360

[highps3]

So as of now this is fake.

If it is true and I were a 360 user id be pist.

[KingJames1906]

Sony drops the emotion engine (despite there claim of 100 % backwards capability for PS1 & PS2 and critical of Microsoft for emulating Xbox games on 360) for software emulation and they’re GENIUS. Microsoft adds HDMI a 120 GB drive and OH MY GOD, Xbox 360 is less of a machine? For those that are dissing the 360, I bet you don’t even own or plan to by one. I have a 360 and I plan on buying a PS3 when the price comes down to my liking of $300.00 for the 60 GB unit. If you don’t like the 360, DON’T BUY IT. If you don’t like the PS3, DON’T BUY IT. But to sit there and be critical of Sony or Microsoft’s decisions to make to take away functionality is just stupid. Use your dollars/ euros to vote for your system of choice. I think the executives of both companies will hear you loud and clear with your purchase instead of whining on some message board. Hell, I think they would respect your opinion more if you actually wrote them about your displeasure with their product. Just my 3 cents. Commence your whininig and perhaps some insults at me if you like.

[ScorponokG1]

sorry but if i ever got a sony ps3 i would only use as a pancake maker, does not have a very good online service and never will. sony seems to be thinging about pushing it a movie player not a true gaming system!!!

[elitesupreme]

power of green: "Nothing wrong with an upgradable HDD"
-that's a joke, right? Obviously, you don't know that the PS3 CAN be upgraded with ANY 2.5" Serial ATA aka NOTEBOOK HDD, about $100 or less.
whereas you're locked into buying MS proprietary crap. $100 for a 20gb and $200 est. for a 120GB. So, tell me which console gives you more room to upgrade.

King James: speaking of BC, how many games CAN you play on your BoxCircle? what, 300-400. PS3 is 90% BC, 1000+. As for the Emotion Engine, they're going with a combination of harware/software emulation. BTW, it's still more BC than the 360. That's right out the gate and even with the dropped EE. it's been what 2yrs and MS STILL only has about 300 BC games. Eh, they didn't have much of a library anways.

EVERYBODY: how many BoxCircles have died? Now, how many PS3's have died? also, for those who say that the PS3 gets "HOT", it's FAN blows out a hell of alot more air than the 360 does, which is why you THINK it's hot. when you touch the system, it's only barely warm. btw, Peter Moore dodged the quesion about 360 being LOUD, and blamed it on the fan. That's BS.

Columbo:
Ps3 had the better launch games. you spout Kameo as if it were a good thing. LOL. Viva Pinata < Little Big Planet. Gears and Crack, nice but how long did it take? yeah, that's right about 2yrs. See, Ps3 has ONLY been out for 5-6 mos. PPL like you turn a blind eye to what's coming down the pipeline for PS3.

ALSO, HDMI>VGA and Component. FACT. HDMI is ALL digital, whereas the others are ANALOG. gauranteed BETTER PICTURE. And, HDMI cables go for about $10-$15., so it's nothing to brag about it being included.

And, IPTV is ONLY available in a few select small markets, through AT&T and affiliated providers. Good luck with that, cause you're going to be FORCED to buy into THEIR service, and you need a T1 internet line. Whereas, PS3 can already Tivo crap thru Linux.

BTW, i WILL pick me one of these Elites IF they dont OVERHEAT.