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Xbox 360 update canceled while Microsoft works on game portability

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

May 23, 2008, 1:26 PM

Xbox Live general manager Marc Whitten says Microsoft is spending time on building out the infrastructure for the service and will skip over its regular bi-annual update.

Typically in the past, Microsoft has pushed an update in the spring and fall. It does not plan to release a comprehensive update this spring, however, because it is preparing a DRM change that would allow users to take their games with them if they change consoles.

"Because this involved allowing users to re-download licenses for content that belongs to our partners it has taken some time to work out the agreements with them to allow this, but we have heard the concerns from folks about DRM and are happy to announce that everything is nearly in place to roll this out in June," Whitten told Next Generation.

Xbox Live's catalog of games will also see a refresh in the coming months. Those more than six months old with a Metacritic score of under 65 and conversion rate below six percent will be delisted to make way for new titles.

In an attempt to promote better games, Microsoft will now also more than double the size limit of Xbox Live games from 150MB to 350MB. More flexibility will additionally be given on pricing of games, and a 1600 point (Xbox Live purchases are made with Microsoft Points) option would be added for developers.

Whitten says that since the launch of Xbox Live Marketplace, gamers have spent the equivalent of nearly $250 million on games and content. About 30 million downloads take place from Xbox Live every month, and the service has sold about 15 million song downloads as well.

Add a Comment (12 Comments)

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By Danno

posted May 26, 2008 - 12:38 PM

Really glad some of those Sony tolls managed to post some positive remarks on the POS3 in a 360 blog. Way to go boys!

(not pridewalker or comments made on hdmi etc)

I am glad that we are moving away from the file size it will allow for better games via xbox live.

Score: 0

By BrokenHALO

posted May 23, 2008 - 4:43 PM

"...take their games with them if they change consoles."!!!
You couldn't do this before? Wow thats crap.

"150MB to 350MB."!!!
Really that's it? I mean I'm sure there are great games on Live but that seems like its pretty low.

Score: 0

By pridewalker

posted May 24, 2008 - 12:14 AM

It was possible to re-dl the content on a new machine, but you had to be online and logged in under the gamertag that purchased the original content to use it.

The tool that MS is developing will remove that hurdle.

In regards to the file size, from my understanding, it was to push devs to create small games that were fun, without taking forever to download. It resulted in a lot of old-school arcade games recieving a bit of 'spit and polish' to the graphics, but many of the originals were a blast...Uno and Pac-man Championship edition, just to name 2. Sure, it limits the ability to offer what some may call a full-scale game (such as GT Prologue and Warhawk), but it did allow Live Arcade to illustrate an old adage...sometimes less is more.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

edited May 23, 2008 - 4:07 PM

Can you enable the optical output and the HDMI audio at the same time with the PS3? Nope.

I've never tried the video output thing on the XBOX but it does enable audio over both optical and HDMI at the same time.

I like to run the video out to my projector and DLP rear projection at the same time, but only for family parties with DirecTV (HR20), which incidentally enables component, composite, S-Video, and HDMI video as well as all the audio outputs at the same time.

It's nice when you want component video and analog audio to the regular TV and HDMI to the projector with optical to the receiver for the theater speakers.

I found this out last Super Bowl when we had 60 people over.

Score: 0

By BrokenHALO

edited May 23, 2008 - 4:40 PM

Thank you for that mate. You managed to make your comment absolutely NOT relevant to the story.

Edit: Sorry man, I just read what ADRIAN wrote. You were replying to him. Nevermind.

Score: 0

By Adrian79

posted May 23, 2008 - 2:04 PM

**off topic warning***

can i use hdmi for video and component for audio at the same time? NOPE!!

but ps3 you can :-)

i still love my xbox,but i prefer the flexiblity of the sony product

Score: 0

By siryak

posted May 23, 2008 - 4:31 PM

*off topic here too*

I finally made the jump to a plasma last weekend for the absolutely amazing picture. This is where a big quirk of the PS3 has reared its' ugly head at me. This thing does not allow you to stretch the image to get rid of the black bars! While not always necessary it is necessary when you are trying to break in a plasma. Also there are some people out there(not me) that would rather have it stretched than have black bars. I can't believe that Sony would not include a feature that many would consider to be standard! It is really unfortunate because the PS3 is a decent upscaler/Blu-Ray player. Maybe we will get lucky and they will include it in a firmware update.

Score: 0

By Niro

edited May 23, 2008 - 3:54 PM

Yes, it just drives me nuts that I can't use HDMI and component at the same time...I have such a great need to do that!!

On the other hand...I love the flexibility of having a total of one whole game that's worth playing on the PS3.

I much rather have a device with 1 game and the ability to output HDMI video and component audio then a device that has many games, a great online service, but is only able to output from one source at a time. :)

Score: 0

By Cairobeta

posted May 23, 2008 - 9:00 PM

That's actually a legitimate grip. Not all HDMI/DVI displays have speakers or audio outputs Nor does everyone own a $800.00 receiver capable of stripping of the audio signal from the HDMI stream. So the only way to get the best picture and the best audio is to use both connections.

Microsoft does have a solution for this but naturally it involves purchasing another $50 addon. Guess what that add-on comes with? Another HDMI cable. You have to wonder how well put together the 360 game plan really is when you have to purchase stuff you already have to get the parts that you don't have. Not that the PS3 is so fantastically super duper but it certainly doesn't feel clunky or needs 4 different add-ons to get the complete set.

Seriously the reason the DRM update is so relevant is because of all the RRODs that have happened on the 360. I doubt Microsoft would even consider this if RROD problem wasn't so obvious.