VGChartz is running a megaton rumor about the launch of the new Xbox 360 dashboard. It has our curiosity piqued because of its creativity and sheer audacity. The story goes that Microsoft will have a five-hour televised countdown beginning September 25 at 7PM Eastern leading to the New Xbox Experience and the software-based relaunch of the console at midnight.
Allegedly, G4 will cover the event exclusively and Live members will be able to stream it. The rumor gets even bigger by saying that three new components of the NXE will be unveiled when the update happens at midnight. First is a partnership with Sirius Radio, allowing users to access the satellite radio station for a "modest monthly fee." Then there's the music store page -- think iTunes, except on your Xbox. Finally, there's the "mad lib" page, though nobody seems to know what the _______ it is.
Sending this whole thing into overdrive, the source claims Microsoft will announce 12 new titles "exclusive or first" on the 360, including Assassin's Creed 2, Mass Effect 2, a new Conker game and two new Halo titles. Also, six free original Xbox games will be available to download, with Halo being one of them.
The whole thing sounds like madness (and fanboy conjecture), but given the Xbox 360's slipping sales, a mega-event relaunch might just be the reset button the company needs for the console best-known to general consumers for the RRoD. The whole rumor isn't even that insane when we recall how Microsoft went all-out for the first Xbox 360 launch and, if Microsoft execs are to be believed, this is "an entirely new Xbox" made possible by "the magic of software."
[Via X3F]
Reader Comments (130)
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 6:55PM Altairio said
Also, six free original Xbox games will be available to download, with Halo being one of them.
This sounds fishy...
This sounds fishy...
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 7:15PM (Unverified) said
I'm pretty interested in the new dashboard, so that's all I really care about. It looks pretty great. Hopefully this is all true.
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 7:24PM (Unverified) said
If this is true, it would stink of desperation. I'm not saying they have to be desperate it just seems like they are going with the "HEY LOOK, WE ARE UPDATING OUT SOFTWARE AND GIVING AWAY FREE STUFF!!! PLEASE BUY OUR CONSOLE!!! *cries*" approach.
It sounds too fanboy to be true.
It sounds too fanboy to be true.
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 7:26PM (Unverified) said
Couldn't they just announce that the 120gb drive won't cost me an arm and a leg?
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 7:34PM Elorian said
Ugh, that game selection would be horrible. Boring sequels, sequels and sequels. How about a 360 Sports, Microsoft?
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 7:42PM (Unverified) said
If this is true I'll buy two 360's!!!
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 8:09PM (Unverified) said
That would be one hell of an event if true, but I seriously doubt it is. The key phrase is "6 free xbox originals".
You people do realize we're talking about Microsoft here right? They won't even give you free themes or gamerpics unless it's like from Doritos or something.
Now the sequel announcements is more likely to happen seeing as ME is supposed to be a trilogy and the ending to AC 1 was an awful cliffhanger.
You people do realize we're talking about Microsoft here right? They won't even give you free themes or gamerpics unless it's like from Doritos or something.
Now the sequel announcements is more likely to happen seeing as ME is supposed to be a trilogy and the ending to AC 1 was an awful cliffhanger.
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 8:34PM Ordeith said
I don't know. I get free stuff from Microsoft all the time.
They mailed me a copy of Halo 3.
They gave me Visual Studio 2008 Standard
They mailed me Office 2007 Ultimate.
They gave me two copies of Windows Vista Ultimate
They gave me a copy of SQL 2008 Standard.
All full versions, all on MS DVDs, all with CD-Keys and COA, all free.
Oh yes, MS gives LOTS of stuff away. It really isn't that far fetched they would give away some MS published originals as well.
Reply
They mailed me a copy of Halo 3.
They gave me Visual Studio 2008 Standard
They mailed me Office 2007 Ultimate.
They gave me two copies of Windows Vista Ultimate
They gave me a copy of SQL 2008 Standard.
All full versions, all on MS DVDs, all with CD-Keys and COA, all free.
Oh yes, MS gives LOTS of stuff away. It really isn't that far fetched they would give away some MS published originals as well.
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 8:12PM Wubbytoes said
This sounds pretty sexy and all, but I would trade it all to have Gold go free. Paying for online play is stupid, plain and simple. Especially when Live is covered in advertisements.
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 9:47PM (Unverified) said
@Ordeith
I was unaware they had a monthly payment plan for the Live service. By your idiotic logic Gears Of War has cost me nary a penny on the daily because of how many times I played it. But then again you are just trying to justify your purchase and console of choice.
Lets look at this -- seriously
I bought Battlefield Bad Company about 2 months ago (about 60 days). The game cost me about $60.00 and I have played it pretty much everyday. By your logic the game has only cost me $1.00 a day! Yay! I feelz sooz much Betthaz!!! HAR HAR!! Does you has the dumbs???
You pay for the service all at once. That is how much it cost you. Period. Stop this retarded justification. The fact of the matter is the service needs to be free. You don't have a superior service because you pay for it. That is a big misconception.
It would be (gasp) the same exact service if they made it free tomorrow. Amirite?
I don't have a problem with you stating that you feel Live is worth $50 annually. I have a problem with you acting a smug little asshole. Not everyone has mummy and daddy to pay for everything.
Live should be free or at the very least ad free.
Reply
I was unaware they had a monthly payment plan for the Live service. By your idiotic logic Gears Of War has cost me nary a penny on the daily because of how many times I played it. But then again you are just trying to justify your purchase and console of choice.
Lets look at this -- seriously
I bought Battlefield Bad Company about 2 months ago (about 60 days). The game cost me about $60.00 and I have played it pretty much everyday. By your logic the game has only cost me $1.00 a day! Yay! I feelz sooz much Betthaz!!! HAR HAR!! Does you has the dumbs???
You pay for the service all at once. That is how much it cost you. Period. Stop this retarded justification. The fact of the matter is the service needs to be free. You don't have a superior service because you pay for it. That is a big misconception.
It would be (gasp) the same exact service if they made it free tomorrow. Amirite?
I don't have a problem with you stating that you feel Live is worth $50 annually. I have a problem with you acting a smug little asshole. Not everyone has mummy and daddy to pay for everything.
Live should be free or at the very least ad free.
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 10:00PM Misfit Toy said
Someone woke up on the wrong side of the cot this morning...
Reply
Posted: Sep 9th 2008 12:51PM Ordeith said
@immortal fanboy:
Live cards = $40 for 13 months.
40/13 = $3.0769/month
It is a service, not a commodity. It doesn't matter if I pay my cell phone or internet bill monthly or annually, the cost is the same - even on months I don't use the internet or don't make any calls.
Take a finance class or something.
Reply
Live cards = $40 for 13 months.
40/13 = $3.0769/month
It is a service, not a commodity. It doesn't matter if I pay my cell phone or internet bill monthly or annually, the cost is the same - even on months I don't use the internet or don't make any calls.
Take a finance class or something.
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 9:09PM QueefMachine said
And then when the servers get hammered the second it goes live we will wait 5 hours for this to download.
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 9:13PM (Unverified) said
Maybe all this is for free LIVE being revealed.
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 9:56PM Misfit Toy said
All of it seems 'fairly' believable. All but the part about Assassin's Creed 2 being exclusive. That I have a hard time buying. Especially since it was 'exclusive' for so long on the PS3...not.
They'll have a multiplatform launch I'm sure. Unless, of course, M$ bought them out for the rights...which I suppose is possible. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Only 17 days left anyhow. I can wait it out.
They'll have a multiplatform launch I'm sure. Unless, of course, M$ bought them out for the rights...which I suppose is possible. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Only 17 days left anyhow. I can wait it out.
Posted: Sep 8th 2008 10:08PM (Unverified) said
I kinda hope this is true, that way Sony will respond with something good for us PS3 owners...oh no wait...Sony won't do anything to respond, they'll just act like nothing has changed.
Posted: Sep 9th 2008 12:27AM KeegdnaB said
Am I the only one who read the headline and thought...oh crap, its gonna take 5 hours to download?
Posted: Sep 9th 2008 12:27AM (Unverified) said
Great! My 360 just went down too! Damn... (it's a launch console so I think it's not covered anymore)...
Posted: Sep 9th 2008 4:20AM R Planteer said
For those bitching about "omg 5 hour download"...Have you all totally been missing the few little updates that do nothing when you load the dashboard recently? I have my xbox set to go to dashboard, not game, and I know ive had at least 2 updates in the past few months that did approx. nothing.
You probably already have part of the update on your console, and the final day will probabaly just be the "unlocking" of this content. MS dashboard updates arent like the PS3, they are a several minute download at the most, even on low end DSL like I have.
You probably already have part of the update on your console, and the final day will probabaly just be the "unlocking" of this content. MS dashboard updates arent like the PS3, they are a several minute download at the most, even on low end DSL like I have.
Posted: Sep 9th 2008 4:46AM Gel214th said
Are any of these services available Internationally?
Posted: Sep 9th 2008 9:37AM easo said
Finally, there's the "mad lib" page, though nobody seems to know what the _monkey balls__ it is.
I love this game
crab salad
cat lips
turkey dinner
pork chops
I love this game
crab salad
cat lips
turkey dinner
pork chops
Posted: Sep 9th 2008 10:02AM easo said
@Immortal Technique
Xbox live does in fact have a monthly payment option. Of course, like everything in life, you get a discount for paying for more than one month at a time. So 1month cost $8.00, 3 months cost $20, and 12 months cost $50. So it just makes sense to pay $50 once a year than to pay $95 on a monthly basis.
And yes, Xbox live is a superior service because you have to pay for it. Its why updates take seconds to install and add major changes to the console, it's why I dont have to sync my controller after every minor change to the system software, its why my friends list is global, its why my dashboard is intergrated, its why I have movies and tv shows on demand, and its why the community can ask for features and Actually Get Them. I could go on, but I think you get the point.
Oh and about Ad based membership, no thanks. I dont like the ads that are in the dashborad now, and they only show xbox related news and announcments.
Xbox live does in fact have a monthly payment option. Of course, like everything in life, you get a discount for paying for more than one month at a time. So 1month cost $8.00, 3 months cost $20, and 12 months cost $50. So it just makes sense to pay $50 once a year than to pay $95 on a monthly basis.
And yes, Xbox live is a superior service because you have to pay for it. Its why updates take seconds to install and add major changes to the console, it's why I dont have to sync my controller after every minor change to the system software, its why my friends list is global, its why my dashboard is intergrated, its why I have movies and tv shows on demand, and its why the community can ask for features and Actually Get Them. I could go on, but I think you get the point.
Oh and about Ad based membership, no thanks. I dont like the ads that are in the dashborad now, and they only show xbox related news and announcments.
Posted: Sep 9th 2008 11:51AM (Unverified) said
True story: It is physically impossible to go an entire Mad Libs without blurting out the word "Balls" when asked for a Plural Noun.
Posted: Sep 10th 2008 2:03PM tkashur said
If this is true...shouldn't we be finding out ridiculously soon? It's September Twenty freakin fifth, thats fifteen days away. Unless they do mega advertising or something...it would be coming out of nowhere. But I suppose we'll see.
Posted: Sep 10th 2008 7:49PM (Unverified) said
The G4 part is fake though, you check here cuz they already made a statement about the rumor. they said "While we can't speak for the accuracy of any of the rest of this information, the part about G4 is totally bogus."
check it out: http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/blog/post/689065/G4s_Microsoft_Special_Rumor_Debunked.html
check it out: http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/blog/post/689065/G4s_Microsoft_Special_Rumor_Debunked.html
Posted: Sep 12th 2008 12:29AM (Unverified) said
When they said Sirus Satilite Radio, I said "LIES LIES LIES". My ass Xbox 360 would be the first console to offer satilite radio.
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