Xbox 360 Wireless N adapter live in the UK, US release still a mystery
by Christopher Grant 
{ Nov 9th 2009 at 2:30PM } 
An Engadget reader snapped the above pic at UK-supermarket Asda where the adapter is evidently selling for £49, which converts to a (relatively speaking!) very reasonable $82. Of course, it's nowhere to be found on any major US retail sites and Microsoft is keeping mum so the cat-and-mouse game continues. Naturally, we've put (another) word into Microsoft and we'll let you know when they respond with the usual shrug.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Anthony M. @ Nov 9th 2009 2:36PM
In hooking up my newly purchased 2nd xbox 360 last night, I actually decided I wanted a wireless adapter for it, just so I didn't have to run another cable. (It's not going to be used for competitive gaming)
Too bad they aren't available here yet. Anyone want to sell me their B/G adapter when they upgrade to this?
eeeeeeeeeeee @ Nov 9th 2009 2:36PM
$80 for networking, $50 for live, $200 for HD-DVD, $140 for HDD, $40 for play and charge kits.
PS3 owners laughing their socks off at you - PRICELESS.
zefur @ Nov 9th 2009 2:39PM
Did you have to? Seriously?
Fx.Dr @ Nov 9th 2009 2:39PM
PS3 owners downvoting you and your douchbaggery - PRICELESS.
Seriously, grow up.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 9th 2009 2:42PM
What's HD-DVD? Is that like Betamax?
The Good Soldier Svejk @ Nov 9th 2009 2:44PM
"$200 for HD-DVD"
Is this message from 2 years ago?
RKN @ Nov 9th 2009 2:46PM
Microsoft shafts gamers on peripherals, I can admit. But Sony charges $150 to repair out of warranty PS3's and refuses to admit many units have a build quality problem like MS finally did, they just stick their fingers in their ears and go "LALALALALA, I'M NOT LISTENING!!!!"
Both companies have their goods and bads.
Shadowfax (PSN: u2fan4894) @ Nov 9th 2009 3:14PM
I can attest to the 150 dollars bullshit, because I had to pay it twice, for a disc drive problem both times too!
AirIntake @ Nov 9th 2009 3:34PM
$40 play and charge kit? Are you too stupid to realize you can use AA NiMH hybrids and a 15 min charger for less than $40? Quite a deal since you can use AAs in everything. I actually prefer this over the built-in batteries in my PS3 dualshock. When my dualshock runs out of juice, I'm stuck playing the game tethered to the PS3 with a USB-mini USB cable and a 15' USB extension cable (because the 3' Sony gave me didn't quite make it back to my couch, go figure). When my 360 controller runs out of juice, I pop 2 more AAs in, put the two dead ones in the charger, and I'm back playing 30 seconds later. Then again, I guess you don't care because your just a troll.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Nov 9th 2009 3:48PM
Hey eeeeeeeeeeee, the Doc called and said he wants your dumbass to get back to 2009 with his DeLorean. Said something about you being to fucking stupid to use it anymore.
MarkHawk @ Nov 9th 2009 4:14PM
Waiting 3 years for your 599.99 investment to start to mean something... priceless
Enjoy Ricky Bobby!
Ashitaka @ Nov 9th 2009 5:16PM
RKN and his lies.
Oh well, this is an xbox-centric article so whoever says bad things about the PS3 and/or Sony is immediately upvoted, I can't complain...
Sly @ Nov 9th 2009 5:38PM
RKN really? The failure rate is WAY lower than the 360. The problem is there for sure, but it only affects certain units, and only some of them.
danthaman15 @ Nov 9th 2009 6:01PM
Computer= 500$
Computer Monitor= 200$
Mouse= 20$
Internet Provider= 80$ a month
Using all that money to spend your time leaving fanboy comments on a website that nobody will give a second thought about while proving at the same time that you are insecure about your PS3 purchase= PRICELESS.
Fireaxe888 @ Nov 10th 2009 2:14PM
@danthaman15
We currently pay 15 dollars a month for 20 megabit unlimited internet where I live. Eastern Europe rocks!
Dreaded Fear @ Nov 9th 2009 2:38PM
I remember getting the wireless G adapter on sale for $60.
It still was overpriced...
Monica Dickey @ Nov 9th 2009 5:05PM
Yeah I bought an original XBOX wireless adapter since it works and it was cheaper, still $50 is too much for something that should be built into the system. I hope some third party N adapter is released that doesn't cost $80. That's like 1/3 the price of the system itself. Ridiculous.
LameDuck @ Nov 9th 2009 6:18PM
You can easily get a wireless bridge super cheap or get a Linksys router and turn it into a bridge using DDWRT. I got one for 20 bux from NewEgg and now it runs 3 of my network storage devices.
Personally, I don't use the 360 or PS3 wireless, I just opt for good ol' cables. Then again, I live in an area with about 30 wireless routers around me. Really likes to screw with ye 'ol interwebs.
RKN @ Nov 9th 2009 2:40PM
Dunno why I couldn't use plug in any USB wireless adapter like the one I use for my PC.
Oh yeah, corporate greed.
Tiptup300 @ Nov 9th 2009 3:33PM
Drivers....and driver management. More overhead on the 360, more development costs on 360. Or wait is that all a part of corporate greed?
J @ Nov 9th 2009 2:40PM
I'm sure that it's been brought up a million times, but still: The Wii has built-in wireless.
RKN @ Nov 9th 2009 2:44PM
And a built-in web browser. But I'd still pick a 360 over a Wii, just my preference. ; )
Mazrael @ Nov 9th 2009 3:12PM
The 360 pads are wireless G, unlike PS3 & Wii's bluetooth based pads..
If I bothered to get a PS3, I'd use the gigabit ethernet port over the wireless-G anyday, I wish the 360's port was gigabit
J @ Nov 9th 2009 3:18PM
I could understand getting down-voted for being wrong, but I'm pretty sure my statement was correct...
I also shouldn't have to clarify, but I will anyway... I own both a Wii and a 360... blah blah blah..
Yes, my feelings are actually hurt. I don't really know how to deal with getting downvoted.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Nov 9th 2009 3:37PM
Your mom has built in wifi.
J @ Nov 9th 2009 3:40PM
Captain Planet... not you too!?!
Just for that I'm not going to recycle for the rest of the day! So, there!
Duke @ Nov 9th 2009 3:43PM
You got downvoted because you were not talking about the issue at hand but just saying a competing device has wireless built in - which everyone already knows. What the wii has built into it is hardly news for 360 users.
Also, 802.11b/g wireless is what the wii has and not n. Thus lessens the comparison on this issue.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Nov 9th 2009 3:50PM
It was just a stupid thing to say J. So I figured I would add on to the stupid with a stupid comment of my own. Except mine was hilarious. C'mon, just imagine your mom with built in wifi. The innuendo alone is hilarious.
Phylogenetics @ Nov 9th 2009 4:18PM
J's mom's wifi is absolutely terrible. No open ports left on that one.
XBL: xGeneral DEATHx PSN: Deeth82 [Planeteer | Power of General Hostility and Angst] @ Nov 9th 2009 4:26PM
It's true, though...
...your mom does have built-in wi-fi.
J @ Nov 9th 2009 4:26PM
Fair enough... However, for better or worse, I stand by my stupid statement. The Wii is considered the crappier system amongst many gamers and it often gets overlooked that it has features that the "better" system does not have.
I believed that the comment was made relevant by the following statement in the original article: "this-should-really-be-built-in wireless networking adapter". And I apologize for the confusion and douchiness...
...that I am probably continuing with this comment.
It hurts.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Nov 9th 2009 4:45PM
It takes a real man to admit his doucheness J. So it is with great pleasure that I am formally inviting you to join the Planeteers and its crusade against pollution.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the newest member of the Planeteers...
J [Planeteer | Power of Being a Douche and Accepting It]
Remember, the Power is YOURS!!
J J [Planeteer | Power of Being a Douche and Accepting It] @ Nov 9th 2009 4:53PM
I would obviously be honored to accept your invitation, Captain Planet... and I'll be digging that bottle out of the trashcan, momentarily.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 9th 2009 2:44PM
Or, I could keep using this Pelican wireless bridge that I bought for 35...and it's got better range than both the PS3's internal Wi-Fi and the 360 adapter.
Yep, I'm sticking with what I got.
Jonafun @ Nov 9th 2009 2:49PM
Actual current prices (assuming you shop around)
Xbox 360 Arcade = $100 on Amazon and at Wal-Mart this past weekend
Wireless G Adapter = $58
HD-DVD (and you can get movies for $1-3 ) = $32
20 GB HDD = $28
Play and charge =
Jonafun @ Nov 9th 2009 2:51PM
Well, that sure got dicked up.
LameDuck @ Nov 9th 2009 4:03PM
Don't worry about. Fanboys won't listen to reason.
Ashitaka @ Nov 9th 2009 5:22PM
You sure know what you're talking about, heh lameduck?
LameDuck @ Nov 9th 2009 6:30PM
Yea. Bob forbid that I not have any loyalties and think the Cell processor is a piece of shit when it comes to gaming needs.
I don't like cum flavored koolaid, so I tend not to suck corporate cock. Unless it comes to the SNES, then I might send Nintendo a nude pic or two.
VeHeMeNcE @ Nov 9th 2009 2:50PM
I'm still using my wireless adapter for the original Xbox with my 360.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 9th 2009 2:52PM
That was a quality adapter, but Microsoft never bothered releasing updated firmware to give it WPA support.
ssuk @ Nov 9th 2009 3:57PM
Darth: There's actually one now. It was released a few weeks ago, which many suspected of adding this Wireless N adaptor support by stealth as well.
Shadowfax (PSN: u2fan4894) @ Nov 9th 2009 2:50PM
A mystery! I should use my magical sleuthing skills to solve it!
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 9th 2009 2:56PM
Microsoft needs a new design team. That thing is like a tumor on an Xbox.
dbkerr101 @ Nov 9th 2009 3:10PM
these are not available yet,they just have a cardboard sleeve and when you take it to the sales desk they either say they have none or the just give you a normal one( i have tried in 2 different stores)
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 9th 2009 3:17PM
How does that have anything to do with the fact that that thing looks like a piece of shit?
poopdedoop @ Nov 9th 2009 3:08PM
It's out in Canada too, I saw one at the store yesterday. I didn't buy it, because I'm happy with the one I have.
coolkat @ Nov 9th 2009 3:14PM
I just took the 99$ that Microsoft wanted and put it to an Ethernet Powerline adapter. Ive gotten great connections for gaming online, and if I need to, I can use it on other devices other than just the 360. But then again it could just be me hating proprietary add-ons.
Carbonize @ Nov 9th 2009 3:31PM
$0 for networking as I use a cat5 cable to my router
$0 for HD-DVD drive as I had no need to buy one
$0 for HDD as mine came with 120GB HDD
$20 for play and charge
Laughing at morons like you with their woefully out of date information and pathetic attempts at intelligence, priceless.
philmcphail @ Nov 9th 2009 4:56PM
Eh, I like how you are proving a point with the flaws of list wars but not all you sources are really viable. Just to point out for example: "$0 for networking as I use a cat5 cable to my router", not everyone can stick with Ethernet cables, some people might have their 360 in other rooms (thus requiring wifi). Stating the HD-DVD add on is just irrelevant. And just mentioning, "$0 for HDD as mine came with 120GB HDD" is a bit useless because it yours, not everyone has the elite.