NEWS - Thursday, March 18, 2010
Xbox 360 Update To Allow USB HDD?
Microsoft may be planning to issue a firmware update to Xbox 360s that would allow the console support the use of external hard drives.
Joystiq claims to have unearthed documentation, which it says was confirmed by multiple sources, that may prove Microsoft is planning the significant update.
Due to "increased market penetration of high-capacity, high throughput USB mass storage devices, a 2010 Xbox 360 system update" will allow users to save and load data from plug in devices, reads the documentation.
The documentation notes: “USB storage devices may, however, have far greater memory capacity than MUs (Memory Units) and may therefore support previously infeasible operations-such as installation of a full disc-based title."
If true this would be a very popular update for consumers, allowing saved games, DLC and even full games to be put on a relatively cheap external drive rather than paying for an Xbox 360 specific HDD. The implication of this move would be that Microsoft is moving out of the Memory Unit business while maintaining its lucrative HDD sales.
However, scepticism is peaked by the fact that Microsoft pushed through an update with the specific intention of rendering third party memory devises useless only last October.
Source: http://www.ign.com
