Microsoft confirms upgraded 360 for research

by Jared Rea { Jan 10th 2007 at 3:25PM }

In an interview with Gamespot, Microsoft's general manager of their game developer group, Chris Satchell, confirmed the rumors and reported leaks concerning a future update to the Xbox 360 hardware. When asked directly about the possibility of an HDMI-enabled Xbox 360 somewhere down the line, Satchell said "If you want to get great HD, I think we've got a good solution for that. In the future it's interesting to see where standards evolve to." He then follows up this statement with "At the moment, everything you might have seen is just looking at our experimentation back in Redmond, not really a product that we're thinking about announcing."

Rumors of an HDMI-enabled Xbox 360 have been kicking around ever since Microsoft introduced 1080P for the Xbox 360 via component this past September. Since then, everything from the Lost Planet "typo" to leaked shots of modified 360's have set off alarms across the internet. So while it's great to know that Microsoft is looking into every possibility, it's also hard to swallow that they won't be actively pursuing this opportunity in the marketplace .

Tags: 1080p, chris satchell, ChrisSatchell, hdmi, lost planet, LostPlanet, microsoft, xbox 360, Xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Aeris130 @ Jan 10th 2007 3:34PM

Now gimme a pricedrop, MS.

Diman @ Jan 10th 2007 3:43PM

HDMI no needed? 1080p not needed? Bigger medium not needed? Xbox 360 not needed!

MachRc @ Jan 10th 2007 3:40PM

I was hoping they come out with updated software with a HDMI adapter cable, but I guess an actual hardware update is needed.

This might sound wierd, but the 360 is the only system Im considering buying 2 of. When and if this updated box rolls out, I might just snag it up too so I can give my "v.1" and kick him out of my room indefiniately.

BklynKid @ Jan 10th 2007 3:49PM

I pity the fools who thought the pics and videos weren't real because of their source. X-S owns you non-believers.

rats @ Jan 10th 2007 3:50PM

The cat! THE CUTE CAT PAW!

Johndude! @ Jan 10th 2007 3:51PM

gimmie a web browser dammit! thats ALL i want! and not that crappy media center page renderer crapy crap! i want a web browser, decent video codecs and a big ass hard drive (150GB or something)! then il be as happy as pie! lol!

:)

Spore @ Jan 10th 2007 3:52PM

That should be the official HDMI stamp on all electronics.

AStalkingButler @ Jan 10th 2007 4:00PM

Please, please, what is with these stupid pictures of cats with every other post? I really don't want to turn into someone that reads a blog with cat pictures everywhere.

Johndude! @ Jan 10th 2007 4:00PM

oh and mgs4! microsoft need to develop some crowbars and "redesign" kojimas car lol! or better yet threaten to put a clutch in it, then well see mgs4 on the 360 in no time! lmao!

Johndude! @ Jan 10th 2007 4:09PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2mKxNoWbO4

referring to this!

lol!

thebes @ Jan 10th 2007 4:28PM

gee for something not really needed like hdmi or 1080p...microsoft sure does have a boner for it. whats next, expirementing with HDDVD for games?

PS3 pwnz 360.

Al @ Jan 10th 2007 4:50PM

I don't care about HDMI, if that would be the only thing the Xbox 360 part II was about, I would say big deal!
When Sony released their Slim Line PS2 it was a huge step forward from the original PS2. It was reduced in size at least three times, it was extremely quiet. That are the two things I would like Microsoft to focus on. It's not that your Xbox 360 games will be twice as good thanks to this HDMI cable, right? If you hoping for that to happen don't hold your breath!
Right now I just want the current gaming experience to improve and for me that's playing with just the sound of the game and not the extra sound of a plane taking off right next to me (yes, it's that loud!). And Microsoft should make their console more reliable. I already returned a broken Xbox 360 in 3 times in just one year!

FrankTheCrank @ Jan 10th 2007 4:39PM

Can you say DAMAGE CONTROL??

XBOTS breath a sigh of releif...till the fall. lol.

wages of sin @ Jan 10th 2007 4:52PM

Uhmm, no that's called given the customer what they want.

MS responding to HDMI and the like aren't issues of back pedaling, rather I would argue it's more of them being receptive to customers/potential customers. By giving people more choices and options on how they want to do it.

Where I don't care about 1080p and HDMI (i'm playing in 1080i) someone else may and for them it's awesome. If it does come to fruition, expect the HDMI to replace the premium and the premium the core, as far as pricing structure goes. Heck, I wish sony would give me the option of buying PS3 without the blueray player, but seeing as how they are trying to sell blue-ray players and not game systems, i'm not interested.

Fred T @ Jan 10th 2007 4:55PM

HDMI + 120gb HDD + IPTV announcement = Media Centric 360 for xmas '07

This will be a 360 model above the current Premium. You dont need this to get IPTV, but, its built for it (HDMI, larger HDD, and maybe other stuff).

DeezNuts420 @ Jan 10th 2007 5:17PM

You guys really need to do some research before insiting that you NEED HDMI. The difference in picture between Component and HDMI is slim to none. You should be more concerned with a price drop than an HDMI connection.

SquirrelPhister @ Jan 10th 2007 5:48PM

the only reason we're even discussing HDMI is because it's one of the few things the PS3 has that the Xbox doesn't. it's not because it's needed for gaming (games aren't subject to HDCP), it's not because the picture quality is better (though it is slightly sharper). It's just one of the only 'bad' things Playstation zealots can point to anymore in the Xbox's specs.

No on can claim with a straight face that the PS3 can push better graphics than the Xbox. No one can honestly claim Blu-ray or HD-DVD are necessary for gaming in the next 5 years unless they severely misunderstand these technologies. So now we're left bickering over little things that don't matter whatsoever to the final experience of actually playing the game. Enter: HDMI.

so people argue endlessly on forums that HD looks like crap if it doesn't stay a digital signal all the way. and what are we really arguing about? a slight difference in sharpness? it's absolutely ridiculous

Shagi @ Jan 10th 2007 6:17PM

Depending on the display hardware of your TV HDMI could easily look worse than Component. Additionally but not importantly the signal strength for HDMI degrades much faster than component cables do meaning that you'll start to lose portions of your picture with HDMI before you do with Component.

HDMI is one thing and one thing only, copy protection. You shouldn't be clamoring for upgrading to a cable thats only difference is trying to stop people from watching illegal copies of films.

Get over it.

p-diddy @ Jan 10th 2007 10:11PM

I don't really care about HDMI - my plasma can't do 1080p anyway. What I care about is the 120GB hard drive that isn't sitting in my XBox 360. Do I need to shell out $100 for it? How do I transfer my files if I do get one? Mine's half full already (with XBLA games and demos). Grrrrr.

-p-

Jeramy @ Jan 10th 2007 8:52PM

@ SquirrelPhister

yup, you're right on the money

HAHA @ Jan 10th 2007 11:24PM

Right now I just want the current gaming experience to improve and for me that's playing with just the sound of the game and not the extra sound of a plane taking off right next to me (yes, it's that loud!)

NO its not THAT load STFU and GTFO!

If xbox can be upgrading without a new purchase xbox has won me for life. So far they have been the only and i mean ONLY console maker that continuely upgraded a console in favor of its customers....Hell the only time car companies do it is when something went wrong.

All the sony and nintendo fanbots need to wake up and see what your being spoonfed.

Fester @ Jan 10th 2007 10:45PM

If someone could tell me why I get interference on my 360 component cable (on dark scenes) but not hdmi (on my upscaling DVD player) then I will stop wanting HDMI on the 360. Not for "better picture" but for digital signal with no crosstalk from my shoddy house electrics.