Rumour, rumour, rumour. Microsoft is preparing to release the 'Ultimate' Xbox 360 in Q3 of 2008.
What a week for rumour mongering. Metal Gear Solid 4 on the Xbox 360, Crysis on the Xbox 360, and now the imminent arrival of the new Xbox 360 'Ultimate.' What will Friday bring, we wonder?
With Mr. Bill Gates expected to launch a departing bombshell during his final keynote as Microsoft chairman at next week's upcoming CES show in Las Vegas, industry commentators have been speculating wildly about exactly what he might unleash.
Well, if today's rumour from
Stuff magazine is to be believed, Microsoft's concerted efforts to quell the challenge of Sony in the gaming arena are about to shift into overdrive with the arrival of the all-new 'Ultimate' Xbox 360 console.
Not content with the Core, Premium, and Elite models, Microsoft is apparently preparing the autumnal introduction of its Ultimate edition, a 320GB behemoth that comes equipped with 1080p HDMI, onboard Wi-Fi connectivity, HD audio output, cool-running 65nm hardware, and an almost imperceptible ventilation fan.
Furthermore, it will also be able to take advantage of the Xbox IPTV service, which is expected to be in full flow well before the end of the year. And, if you're presently wondering whether the Ultimate will offer enough oomph to crush the PlayStation 3 beneath Microsoft's stomping corporate boots, then you should also factor in that the new console will come armed with a built-in HD-DVD player too.
Presently, there is no price accompanying this particular rumour. That being said, however, if Microsoft intends to use the Ultimate to pull prospective consumers away from the Blu-ray-equipped PS3, then it needs to release it close to the current price tagged onto Sony's top-tier 80GB model – $499 USD.
Presently, the top-tier Xbox 360 Elite, which offers 120GB of storage and an HMDI port, but is without a HD-DVD player, retails for $449 USD, which leaves Microsoft with a slim margin of just $50 USD to play with when it prices the Ultimate if it wants to undercut the 80GB PS3.
It's also worth noting that the Xbox 360's freestanding HD-DVD player is currently priced at $179,99 USD (Amazon.com) but has been priced as low as $129,99 during 2007.
Hmm, interesting stuff. Time will soon tell whether Lord Gates does indeed unveil yet another enhanced Xbox 360 at
next week's CES.
