Xbox 360-branded 16GB drives from SanDisk coming in May

by Ben Gilbert on Mar 26th 2010 11:00AM

This morning at the PAX East Microsoft breakfast, Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb revealed the 16GB Xbox 360-branded Flash drive from SanDisk. Available in May, the not-yet-priced device comes pre-installed with the April 6 Dashboard update for those who shun the connectivity of Xbox Live.

In a conversation with Joystiq, Hryb informed us that all data will be transferable to the USB device, except for installed games -- users will need to re-install those directly to the USB device once more. He assured us, however, that, "If you've got a 16GB and you only want to use 8, you can use the UI and throttle it back." Further, he reiterated to Joystiq that while this branded device is certainly one option, other Flash drives (including those larger than 16GB) will work in the same capacity.

Tags: dashboard-update, dashboard-update-spring-2010, larry-hryb, major-nelson, microsoft, pax, pax-east, pax-east-2010, sandisk, usb, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (67)

Also available with "Joystiq" imprint.

I would so buy and use a Joystiq flash drive!

Get on that marketing fella's. It's a gold mine!

I sure hope it costs 3-4 times what a normal 16GB USB drive costs! You know, because that would scale well with what they charge for their hard drives.

It should be around $50-$60. Since there's no proprietary hardware encasing the drive (like with the 360 HDD) it shouldn't inflate the cost too much.

I think you're confusing the definitions of shouldn't and this-is-Microsoft-we're-talking-about-here.

It should be normal price. You guys need to realize that MS doesn't overcharge for the HDDs because "they're Microsoft". They do it because the Arcade exists. They want something to undercut Sony, but they also want a $300 console to make more money off of each sale. So they have an Arcade and an Elite. If they priced the HDDs sanely then you could buy an Arcade and an HDD for less than an Elite. So they couldn't have that $300 console.

This shouldn't be an issue with the flash drives.

And I got downvoted for forecasting this exact thing on the original announcement thread a few days ago for the USB storage.

Darnit! How do you expect Xboxic to use that pic if you put the watermark right there?

Just $99 bucks!

Ah I was gonna say something along those lines but you beat me to it!

If I were to hazard a guess though they'll try to sell these for like $50-60. >_

Oh great, because I haven't spent extra money on anything lately that I can get for way cheaper. Count me in!

I do hope these flash drives aren't above $25 as anymore then that would be too steep.

Cheapest 16GB USB flash drive I see on NewEgg without a rebate is $31.99. The cheapest on Amazon is $26. So, your hope is already blown out of the water.

I highly doubt it will. This is MS we're talking about here.

Well, it matters if you want one without crappy software on it. Like SanDisk's stupid U3 garbage.

Perfect for grandmas who don't know anything about videogames or computers to get their grandkids for the holidays!

The people who buy this are probably the same people who buy the "official" PS3 HDMI cables ($30.00) over the $2 ones sold online.

Sad thing is, I've never seen HDMI cables sold in stores for under 25 dollars. People get ripped off so bad. :\

My HDMI cable i use on my PS3 cost me £3 from Asda (the UK version of Wal-Mart)

I've actually seen Blockbuster selling them for 10.

So what is a 16 gig flash drive going for these days?

I want to know so I know how far to spit my drink when i hear THIS price.

see comment below VV

@WINterfang: Save a few bucks: http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Cruzer-Micro-Flash-SDCZ6-016G-A11/dp/B0018Z0PWY/ref=pd_cp_e_1

$30 seems to be the general asking rate, which seems a bit much when I know I can get an 8GB for $5 somewhere. My guess is it's like all storage whose price isn't being fully controlled by Microsoft: wait, watch, and you can get huge price cuts.

throttle it back guys, these gigglebytes are getting hard tah handlez!! our megglehurtz are leaving trailing edges EVERYWHERE in the UI....

THROTTLE BACK! THROTTLE BACK!!

Or, you know, you have a 32 GB flash drive and just want to dedicate 8 gigs to video games.

*whoosh*

right over your head.

Yeah cos its really hard to press "delete" on something you dont want.

Um, why wouldn't you just format the drive?

I don't have an Xbox myself... Will these work in all the same ways as a hard drive? And if so... doesn't that make the Arcades a lot more useful?

Ironically you can get a SanDisk 16gb Flash Drive for £18 new (so like $20 i think?)

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=16gb+flash+drive&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=17526512051316228364&ei=ltGsS9bfCJW04QailtjeDw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBgQ8wIwAg#ps-sellers

Wonder whether that'll be the same price for an xbox logo on top of it?

Some cases (not mine) it wasnt removable.

HSOL, it costs more because Microsoft has a rigourous test and quality assurance process for its products that. . . haha sorry I'm can't even finish typing this.

April 6 dashboard update??????? Whats on it

If only there were a link or something with more info... Then they could put it in the article.

Somebody, call an ambulance! We've got a severe burn victim. The name is JerseyJones and I don't think he's going to make it.

http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2010/03/26/USB-Memory-Support-for-the-Xbox-360-coming-April-6th.aspx

There ya go tiger.

add $10 MS tax to the normal retail for a Sandisk 16Gb USB drive. CDN it would be $43.99 + $10, $53.99

It'll probably be like the SanDisk Wii SD cards...Functionally the same as an unbranded device, but 2x-3x the price, and specially made for the people who don't realize that you don't NEED the branded device

Does anyone know if they are allowing non-MS branded drives?

YES THEY ARE

I don't remember ANYTHING cheap from Microsoft, NOTHING.

"specially made for the people who don't realize that you don't NEED the branded device"

yep that's pretty much the size of it. they are preying on peoples ignorance really.

now the question is...Will it be able to use 16gb of my Ipod Classic..I mostly use my Ipod classic as a External on all my computers now..

oh shit that would be great. so probably not.

Okay...Sandisk, let's see what you got:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820235018&cm_re=usb_16gb-_-20-235-018-_-Product

@ Ballistic H

Heatsinks and ventilation fans.

@ CaptainProtonX: I meant price-wise, but, TOUCHÉ!

Kinda looks like a dong.

You have a 2 inch flat dong? Is that the meaning behind your nickname?

@Ballistic H
Except for all the free content on XBLM and XBLA right?

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Xbox 360-branded 16GB drives from SanDisk coming in May

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