[Rumor] Xbox 360 Getting USB Storage in Spring Update

[DoctorFinger]

Ain internal Microsoft document obtained by Joystiq appears to show that the Xbox 360 will soon be getting support for USB mass storage devices. Possibly as soon as the spring dashboard update.

Once the update occurs, Xbox 360 owners will be able to download Xbox Live Arcade games, Xbox Live Indie games, Games on Demand, DLC and Title Updates to the storage device. "USB storage devices may, however, have far greater memory capacity than MUs (at the date of writing, the largest MU is 512 MB), and may therefore support previously infeasible operations-such as installation of a full disc-based title." That's right, you can also store disc-based games to the USB device; however, it will require the disc to be in the tray for authentication, identical to the current functionality.

Two caveats. You can have a maximum of 2 USB devices in the machine at once, even though the 360 has 3 USB ports (there's one in the back, used mostly for the Wireless adapter). There's also an upper limit of 16GB on the storage, so this isn't really meant to supplant the larger 120/250 GB hard drives. If you're one of the many who have been pining for more storage space on your 360, but have been loathe to shell out big bucks for the larger HDDs, you may want to start stocking up on USB flash drives.

Source - Joystiq.

[Mike Kelehan]

I think the best part of this is that it will make memory units obsolete, and it will make it extremely easy for us to move our accounts and saves between our homes and those of our friends.

[darkbase]

Man, I wait how many years to buy a 360 and they STILL fuck me over (just bought a memory card last week, see my old thread).

[Gorvi]

I said it in the other thread, I kinda doubt this, if only because it's just not like Microsoft (or damn near any other company) to just hamstring one form of revenue (HDD sales) for no good reason. Before you go and say this would be to spur downloadable games/content sales, if they really wanted to do that they could simply lower the HDD prices themselves and still maintain a revenue stream from them.

[Mike Kelehan]

Originally Posted by Gorvi

I said it in the other thread, I kinda doubt this, if only because it's just not like Microsoft (or damn near any other company) to just hamstring one form of revenue (HDD sales) for no good reason. Before you go and say this would be to spur downloadable games/content sales, if they really wanted to do that they could simply lower the HDD prices themselves and still maintain a revenue stream from them.

I think this is possible because the new 360 slim won't have memory unit ports. All speculation on my part. I just wish it supported four at a time, so we could all keep our accounts on our own devices.

[Gorvi]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelehan

I think this is possible because the new 360 slim won't have memory unit ports. All speculation on my part. I just wish it supported four at a time, so we could all keep our accounts on our own devices.

So it's possible because of that thing that may or not be happening?

[Hemalin]

Originally Posted by Gorvi

I said it in the other thread, I kinda doubt this, if only because it's just not like Microsoft (or damn near any other company) to just hamstring one form of revenue (HDD sales) for no good reason. Before you go and say this would be to spur downloadable games/content sales, if they really wanted to do that they could simply lower the HDD prices themselves and still maintain a revenue stream from them.

This is aimed at memory units, hence the size limit. Good on Microsoft for finally ditching those overpriced things. Now they just need to do something about those HDDs.

[Gorvi]

Originally Posted by Hemalin

This is aimed at memory units, hence the size limit. Good on Microsoft for finally ditching those overpriced things. Now they just need to do something about those HDDs.

So the company that recently blocked 3rd party memory units via a firmware update will now be allowing the use of any USB dongle? That just doesn't make sense.

[miah]

The only reason I have a MU is because I bought a Arcade unit. I've always been annoyed that I couldn't just use one of the MANY USB Fobs I have laying around instead. A limit of 16gb is just silly. Let us use a USB HDD. I can hook one up to my PS3 without issue, I can even 'backup' my PS3 to my external drive.

I think the only reason MS sells the other HDD's at such a huge markup is so that they can actually profit a bit from hardware sales on the 360.

[agentgray]

I would not be surprised if this is only for Microsoft's new USB media. It will only work with their stuff. Imagine what the price would be...reasonable?

This is Microsoft on the 360. I mean, c'mon.

[hunterx280]

I think this is real and it's because MS is thinking doing a Xbox 360 Slim. I'm wondering if the Slim will replace the Arcade but won't have the capability of adding a HDD and this is here so people don't bitch about lack of storage. Just my guess and pure speculation.

[OldJadedGamer]

Originally Posted by miah

The only reason I have a MU is because I bought a Arcade unit. I've always been annoyed that I couldn't just use one of the MANY USB Fobs I have laying around instead. A limit of 16gb is just silly. Let us use a USB HDD. I can hook one up to my PS3 without issue, I can even 'backup' my PS3 to my external drive.

I think the only reason MS sells the other HDD's at such a huge markup is so that they can actually profit a bit from hardware sales on the 360.

You can only put your save files on a USB memory stick through the USB. You cannot save full games or demos to it like Fat Princess for example. Nor can you download your movies you buy off the movie download service. You make it sound like the PS3 treats USB sticks just like the internal HDD.

[Gorvi]

Originally Posted by OldJadedGamer

You can only put your save files on a USB memory stick through the USB. You cannot save games to it like Fat Princess for example.

Since you can move them, though, it's really not a big deal. Aside from those annoying locked saves, of course.

Nor can you download your movies you buy off the movie download service. You make it sound like the PS3 treats USB sticks just like the eternal HDD.

Actually, you can.

[OldJadedGamer]

Originally Posted by Gorvi

Since you can move them, though, it's really not a big deal. Aside from those annoying locked saves, of course.

I think you are misunderstanding what I said. Not the save file, the full game. Say I'm out of space on my HDD, I can't save Fat Princess to a USB stick.

When I'm installing Hot Shots Golf, I can't tell it to install to the USB drive instead of the internal HDD. Also, I can't put DLC for any game and run it off a USB stick nor can I install things like Home to it. All this is only for the internal HDD. The USB thing is for transferring save files back and forth only.

[Gorvi]

Originally Posted by OldJadedGamer

I think you are misunderstanding what I said. Not the save file, the full game. Say I'm out of space on my HDD, I can't save Fat Princess to a USB stick.

When I'm installing Hot Shots Golf, I can't tell it to install to the USB drive instead of the internal HDD. Also, I can't put DLC for any game and run it off a USB stick nor can I install things like Home to it. All this is only for the internal HDD. The USB thing is for transferring save files back and forth only.

Ahh, ok, yeah, you're right on that. I misunderstood when you said save games.

[Deadend]

I am assuming that if the USB drives are to be used to store 360 data that MS will want to have them formatted? Or will putting a USB drive simply add a couple folders to the directory of the drive?

[Urizen]

Two months this would have been fantastic news for me. I ended up giving up my old HDD with my saves because I was upgrading to a new 360. Yeah, I could have bought a MU for a one-time transfer...but I didn't think of it.

I know -- my bad. Still, the thumb drive solution would have been great.

[Yeti2005]

Originally Posted by Urizen

Two months this would have been fantastic news for me. I ended up giving up my old HDD with my saves because I was upgrading to a new 360. Yeah, I could have bought a MU for a one-time transfer...but I didn't think of it.

I know -- my bad. Still, the thumb drive solution would have been great.

Why didn't you use the transfer cable to move everything over?

[Urizen]

Originally Posted by Yeti2005

Why didn't you use the transfer cable to move everything over?

I understand I could have called MS and requested a cable, but I didn't have the time. I was giving my 20GB Pro to a friend who was leaving the country. Got myself an Elite. I really don't know why MS insists on bundling the transfer cable with larger HDDs, and never selling them separately.

[Mike Kelehan]

Originally Posted by Urizen

I understand I could have called MS and requested a cable, but I didn't have the time. I was giving my 20GB Pro to a friend who was leaving the country. Got myself an Elite. I really don't know why MS insists on bundling the transfer cable with larger HDDs, and never selling them separately.

It's hard to get stores to stock something that you give away for free to anyone who calls and asks.