Microsoft acknowledges Xbox 360 Arcade

After seeing proof of its existence months back via pre-orders, retail leaks and even unboxings, Microsoft has finally decided to announce their new console. Meet the new Xbox 360 Arcade. And just as expected, the Arcade 360 is the Core system's replacement offering newer and more exciting features. W00t, w00t!

Enough chit-chat, let's get down to the deets. The Xbox 360 Arcade console is available at retailers right now in the US for $279 (Europe on October 26th for £200/€279) and comes packaged with a 256MB memory card, wireless controller, HDMI connectivity, standard composite cables, and five FULL VERSION XBLA games including Pac-Man: CE, UNO, Luxor 2, Boom Boom Rocket and Feeding Frenzy. And just like the Core system before it, the Arcade will not come with a HDD (that's what the memory card is for, silly).

Again, sorry if the revelation of a new console doesn't surprise you as Microsoft has made a habit of having retailers make their announcements for them. No matter though, the Xbox 360 Arcade is definitely a step in the right direction as far as a replacement for the Core goes. Getting all the same Core goodness plus a memory card, wireless controller and games (not to mention HDMI too) all for the same price makes us rather jolly fanboys. Can't you see our smile?

Reader Comments (16)

This should be a decent offering for those looking to upgrade to HDMI, other than that, it's pretty stupid to sell the 360 without a hard drive.

How are the arcade games distributed?

I actually like Microsoft's "soft launch" approach. Only the rabid fanboys care about chipsets, HDMI, and new SKUs, for the average person. If little Billy saw that a new Xbox360 was coming out and sends his mom to get it for Christmas and it isn't out yet, that is annoying. This way, these things are probably already at the local store when you find out about them.

This is an obvious contrast from Sony's 40GB, coming soon.

As a person on the verge of buying a 360 for my gaming trifecta... I think it's a decent option.

But I would much rather get a HD version of the Elite or Pro with the 2 bundled games.

Ad really the $350 model is really the steal at this point with it having all the same stuff as the Elite (minus 100GB hard drive difference and the black color).

and now they need to address the DRM crap with the arcade games... THAT would be nice...

But i like this box for people that really arnt into heavy gaming... and in most cases, you can get away with using just a memory card for game saves...

Any idea what the lot numbers and teams are? I wonder if these have falcon in there? Please post pics if anyone has done the flashlight test on these consoles.

Could'nt they just make it an even 300$ and trown in the 20GB Harddrive, that would be a deal.

this is going to be the nail in the coffin for sony this christmas. an xbox for under 300, with a wireless controler and five games.

if i was a parent this holiday season, i would have to say that xbox is the way to go.. everything is downgradeable in price, don't want HD movies, don't want a huge harddrive, don't want expensive wireless controllers? you can get a barebones system.

i think there are two choices this christmas, wii and xbox.. and the wii doesn't have halo and bioshock..

Dear Xbox fans,

we are making a great selection of games and movies available on XBLMP and we constantly make sure that our disc based games are of the highest quality to further promote your quality of gaming. We hope you appreciate our efforts!

Love,
MS

P.s.
We made some new shit! here ya go!

i work for walmart ad we have had these for about two weeks now. we also have the ones with the marval ua and forza. trust me if they arent on the shelfs at your walmart then they have them in the back in the cage. ive seen them with my own eyes.

@10: With no hard drive, this is a moot point. Plus it still doesn't have wireless networking or the ability to play back HD movies without an expensive addon, pushing it near the PS3's cheaper SKU. I can't imagine why Microsoft released this unless they wanted to squash the "why the hell doesn't this HD gaming machine have an HDMI port" question.

I'll probably get this box. :) It very much appeals to me, and I don't need a hard drive on my game system, I don't have Wifi so I don't need large downloads or the like, I just want to play games with it. Does it still have a regular DVD player? Because I only have regular DVDs. :D

Peace

Correct me if I'm wrong but...

No Hard Drive = No Halo 3

Sounds like there might be some pissed off kids (and dads) on Christmas morning if that's the case.

@etchasketchist, I'm not in the know on this, but I'd be surprised.

Microsoft policy is that all games can be playable without a hard drive, for them to break their policy on their own game just because it's a flagship game would be rather poor form

I too would like to know if this system has a Falcon motherboard

This would also be a great way to take advantage of Future Shop's Free GHII offer.

$299.99 http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10095079&catid=

Xbox 360 "Go Pro" already on sale
http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Pro-Value-Bundle/dp/B000W91YTA/ref=sr_1_23/002-8453682-6563228?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1193155177&sr=8-23

Microsoft acknowledges Xbox 360 Arcade

Reader Comments (16)

Posted: Oct 23rd 2007 10:38AM xenocidic said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2007 10:39AM Lou3000 said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2007 10:47AM xenocidic said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2007 11:00AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2007 11:09AM andyg8180 said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2007 11:22AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2007 12:07PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2007 12:00PM Billy Gun said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2007 1:03PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2007 12:55PM hotpuck6 said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2007 3:19PM tonyf36 said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2007 2:56PM afrosheen said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2007 6:49PM strangeseraph said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2007 7:08PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 24th 2007 8:29AM xenocidic said

Posted: Oct 27th 2007 1:03AM Hotaru99 said

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