Post by ^APEX^ALPHA on Mar 22, 2010 12:25:18 GMT -5
Your Xbox 360 memory cards may soon be obsolete. And that's good news, because Microsoft is preparing to make their system compatible with USB storage devices.
According to official Microsoft documents attained by Joystiq, a 2010 system update will enable Xbox 360 users to save their games to USB drives. And we aren't just talking save files: we're talking whole games.
The documentation claims that the switch to USB "may…support previously infeasible operations-such as installation of a full disc-based title." That said, you'll be better off storing smaller files to your USB drives, because retail games will still require their game discs for authentication.
Microsoft will purportedly impose a storage limit of 16 GB per USB device. This is to prevent third-party USB drives from undermining high-end Xbox 360 models, such as the Xbox 360 Elite, which boasts a 120 GB hard drive. If Microsoft didn't do this, people would simply buy the cheapest version of the Xbox 360, then pay a third-party for hundreds of GB of storage. Instead, they'll be able to cheaply upgrade any Xbox 360 with an additional 32 GB of memory or less, because each system will support two USB drives at a time.
This announcement transforms the $199 Xbox 360 Arcade from one of the least viable 360 models (no hard drive) to one of the best deals in gaming. It also lends credence to the rumors that a smaller Xbox 360 is in the works. With USB memory support, Microsoft can viably release Xbox 360 models without hard drives, making it much easier for them to come up with a compact redesign.
Of course, for a USB drive to store Xbox 360 data, it will have to be formatted. Joystiq's documents indicate, however, that you'll be able to set aside media files for use on other formats. So theoretically, you could store both music and games on a drive and still play the music on a PC.
This is all old news to Playstation 3 owners -- their system has benefited from USB storage from the very beginning and without an artificially imposed limit. But when Microsoft finally embraces USB, proprietary memory cards will be one step closer to video game history. And we may be one step closer to a much smaller Xbox 360.
According to official Microsoft documents attained by Joystiq, a 2010 system update will enable Xbox 360 users to save their games to USB drives. And we aren't just talking save files: we're talking whole games.
The documentation claims that the switch to USB "may…support previously infeasible operations-such as installation of a full disc-based title." That said, you'll be better off storing smaller files to your USB drives, because retail games will still require their game discs for authentication.
Microsoft will purportedly impose a storage limit of 16 GB per USB device. This is to prevent third-party USB drives from undermining high-end Xbox 360 models, such as the Xbox 360 Elite, which boasts a 120 GB hard drive. If Microsoft didn't do this, people would simply buy the cheapest version of the Xbox 360, then pay a third-party for hundreds of GB of storage. Instead, they'll be able to cheaply upgrade any Xbox 360 with an additional 32 GB of memory or less, because each system will support two USB drives at a time.
This announcement transforms the $199 Xbox 360 Arcade from one of the least viable 360 models (no hard drive) to one of the best deals in gaming. It also lends credence to the rumors that a smaller Xbox 360 is in the works. With USB memory support, Microsoft can viably release Xbox 360 models without hard drives, making it much easier for them to come up with a compact redesign.
Of course, for a USB drive to store Xbox 360 data, it will have to be formatted. Joystiq's documents indicate, however, that you'll be able to set aside media files for use on other formats. So theoretically, you could store both music and games on a drive and still play the music on a PC.
This is all old news to Playstation 3 owners -- their system has benefited from USB storage from the very beginning and without an artificially imposed limit. But when Microsoft finally embraces USB, proprietary memory cards will be one step closer to video game history. And we may be one step closer to a much smaller Xbox 360.
