Update: When asked whether the 250GB drive would release outside of Japan, Microsoft has informed Joystiq that it has "nothing to announce" at this time.
Microsoft has announced (translation) that it will release a standalone 250GB hard drive in Japan later this year. The drive – which carries a price tag of ¥15,540 (~$170) – is set to be released on March 11. On the same day, the company will also be releasing the Wireless Controller Game Pack and the Xbox 360 Wireless N adapter.
This will mark the first time that Microsoft has released the 250GB hard drive as a standalone product. Thus far, the 250GB model has only been available as part of certain bundles such as the Modern Warfare 2 bundle released in 2009. Previously, Microsoft's Albert Penello noted Microsoft didn't have any specific plans to release the 250GB drive by itself, though he did note the possibility. While this particular drive is currently slated only for Japan, it seems likely that other territories will follow.
We've contacted Microsoft regarding any North American or European release plans and will update this post with any new info.
Reader Comments (87)
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:31PM (Unverified) said
MARCH 11TH IS MY BIRTHDAY!!!
And now you know... 'cause knowledge is power!
Reply
And now you know... 'cause knowledge is power!
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:34PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
MARCH 11TH IS ALSO NATIONAL NO ONE GIVES A SHIT DAY!!
COINCIDENCE?!
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COINCIDENCE?!
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:45PM FredFredrickson said
You sure it's not actually February 1st, Cap'n?
Reply
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:46PM (Unverified) said
I'm so flattered you took time out of your day to do that. Thank you. :-)
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:55PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
No sweetie, March 11th is National Not Give a Shit Day. Not today.
Today is National Point Out That March 11th is National Not Give a Shit Day to Create Awareness.
Reply
Today is National Point Out That March 11th is National Not Give a Shit Day to Create Awareness.
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:59PM (Unverified) said
Cap, did Ma-Ti brush you off or something? You seem angry today...
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 3:34PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
I don't know what it is today Brad. Perhaps I have "a case of the Mondays".
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:32PM RobS the 3rd said
Uh, why release a new hard drive in a market where you have poor sales?
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:50PM Edge of Blade said
...hence the feeling the author has that other territories' announcements will be forthcoming.
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Posted: Feb 2nd 2010 10:48AM Uphillbothways said
Yeah, I've got the 20GB still, too, and I'd consider buying this if it came to NA. Then re-download all my titles that I've already played through and had to delete because of storage constraints.
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:33PM (Unverified) said
Oh my gosh, a 360 hard drive that averages to less than a dollar a gigglebyte!
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:35PM (Unverified) said
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136459
However, I could upgrade my PS3 to 640GB for 109...
Microsoft, make the NextBox use standard, non-proprietary HDD's...
Reply
However, I could upgrade my PS3 to 640GB for 109...
Microsoft, make the NextBox use standard, non-proprietary HDD's...
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:40PM Puertoricarious said
not gonna happen. microsoft's accessories have always netted them major cash. there's plenty to complain about, but at the end of the day your average consumer is voting with their wallet.
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:41PM (Unverified) said
I guess they have to pay for the billions spent on 360 repairs somehow...;)
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:45PM Granger said
It'll definitely be better next generation. The reason it's so bad this gen is because Microsoft didn't make the HDD standard... The Price gouging on 360 HDDs has everything to do with meeting the price differences between the 360 SKUs. If you choose to buy an Arcade unit, you're damn well going to pay the difference if you want an HDD later on.
I'm pretty confident Microsoft's next console will launch exclusively with an HDD or other mass-storage option.
Reply
I'm pretty confident Microsoft's next console will launch exclusively with an HDD or other mass-storage option.
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:47PM (Unverified) said
It should have launched with an HDD in the first place. Microsoft's desire to rush the console out has hurt them time and time again, since they're not leading the generation, they've got a damaged reputation, and the whole console is aging fast.
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:58PM (Unverified) said
You're welcome, Duke.
But is it a tired argument when it keeps happening? Microsoft isn't exactly lowering accessory prices, are they?
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But is it a tired argument when it keeps happening? Microsoft isn't exactly lowering accessory prices, are they?
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 4:01PM ChomskyKnows said
Wow a complaint about how expensive Xbox hard drives are and a comparison to the PS3? Thank you. Never read that 1 million times before.
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 7:52PM CaramelZappa said
I have one of those 640gb drives in my PS3 and another in my laptop. They're just plain awesome. I was considering getting the 120gb drive for the 360 but the fact that I only payed $90 for the 640gb in my ps3 just makes it seem even more like robbery. MS needs to start being competetive if they want more of my money.
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:34PM Nicknin10do said
Don't mean to advertise or anything, but the web site DealExtreme offers the 250 HDD for only around $70.
Now it really doesn't say if they are in stock or not, but worth a shot for that price.
Reply
Now it really doesn't say if they are in stock or not, but worth a shot for that price.
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:36PM FredFredrickson said
I know it would disrupt the "purity" of the Xbox experience, but they really should just release an empty hdd casing so you can drop a laptop hard drive into it. That way they'd only have to make a cheap plastic mold, and it would be up to the consumer how much space they want.
They can use internal memory to hold the profile info, so swapping wouldn't be a pain.
Reply
They can use internal memory to hold the profile info, so swapping wouldn't be a pain.
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:42PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
but then they can't charge $250 for the inevitable 320GB and $325 for the 500GB coming in the next 18 months....
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 3:27PM CaptainProtonX said
I paid $60 for a 500 GB I dropped into my PS3.
MS, did you really thinking it was so necessary to corner the HD market like you did? Do you still think it's 1999? HD space is ample and prolific. You have 6 tiers of security for security your files. WTF are you raping your own fans in such a messy way?
Oh...right. Those Achievement Points are just so valuable.
I hate you.
~Signed, Loving Fan
Reply
MS, did you really thinking it was so necessary to corner the HD market like you did? Do you still think it's 1999? HD space is ample and prolific. You have 6 tiers of security for security your files. WTF are you raping your own fans in such a messy way?
Oh...right. Those Achievement Points are just so valuable.
I hate you.
~Signed, Loving Fan
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:43PM BrokenTriforce said
What in the hell do you need a 250 GB HDD for on an Xbox 360?
Is this in preparation of Dreamcast games on XBLA?
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Is this in preparation of Dreamcast games on XBLA?
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:45PM (Unverified) said
I'm already down to 45GB on my 120GB drive.
The Mass Effect 2 install alone took up 13GB...now picture the poor saps who install FFXIII.
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The Mass Effect 2 install alone took up 13GB...now picture the poor saps who install FFXIII.
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:48PM Punkrawk Bbob said
well with DLC, space is consumed. Between FPS map packs (halo, gears, rainbow six, graw), rockband, and demos, I've ran out of space on 60gb numerous times. Now with all this Zune Marketplace stuff (music, TV shows, movies), I don't even think the 120gb would last me long. 250gb would be nice, but $170 still too much for me. That's practically another Xbox.
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:49PM (Unverified) said
I'm down to about 40-45 gigs on my 120. Installed both ME2 discs as well as GH Metallica, got ME1, Saints Row 2, Dead Rising, and Bad Company 1 on there from games on demand. Fallout 3 DLC takes up about 2 gigs. I'm sure the 52 xbla games I have takes up a bunch too.
And that's not including the 5 disc games I have that I had to un-install to keep the 40ish gigs. It adds up pretty quick.
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And that's not including the 5 disc games I have that I had to un-install to keep the 40ish gigs. It adds up pretty quick.
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:50PM BrokenTriforce said
@Brad
Haven't picked up the first ME. Just got a 360 this Christmas.
@Vidikron
That's good news. I've heard that 360s are rough on discs.
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Haven't picked up the first ME. Just got a 360 this Christmas.
@Vidikron
That's good news. I've heard that 360s are rough on discs.
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:51PM (Unverified) said
That's probably the main reason. Games on Demand do take up a considerable amount of space.
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:51PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
MS likes to tout the 360 as a MEDIA console....so plenty of people are going to want to download movies and everything else to store on their systems....not to mention Game installs and Games on Demand.....my 120GB HDD is down to like 30GBs left as is...but chances are I will buy a 360 with a bigger HDD before I buy a stand alone one....
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:53PM (Unverified) said
@Kenny
No, not mandatory, but it does speed up load times quite a bit.
Plus, if you've ever had a 360 screw up your discs (even if it wasn't THIS unit), you'll install everything.
Some games are smaller. ODST is 3.5GB, L4D2 is 4.4GB, while the first ME is 7.3GB.
@Broken
The newest units, with the Lite-On drives, seem to run a lot better disc-wise. Not a lot of noise.
Reply
No, not mandatory, but it does speed up load times quite a bit.
Plus, if you've ever had a 360 screw up your discs (even if it wasn't THIS unit), you'll install everything.
Some games are smaller. ODST is 3.5GB, L4D2 is 4.4GB, while the first ME is 7.3GB.
@Broken
The newest units, with the Lite-On drives, seem to run a lot better disc-wise. Not a lot of noise.
Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:54PM BrokenTriforce said
Can't you save your TV shows an other stuff to an external HDD?
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Posted: Feb 1st 2010 2:54PM (Unverified) said
Nope, not unless you use that Datel XSata thing, and it's a cause for bans...
Reply
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