Microsoft to Launch Xbox 360 HD in Japan Only

By Dena Cassella Published February 1, 2010

Microsoft announced it will be releasing a 250GB hard-disk drive for the Xbox 360 on March 11^th—but unfortunately only in Japan. We hate reporting great news when it doesn’t apply to our market, but we just want you to know that this 250GB drive is out there so you can come to terms with it. If you’re dying for this hard-drive add-on, maybe you should look into Microsoft’s Modern Warfare 2-themed 250GB equipped Xbox 360.

This new drive sports more than double the storage capacity from the current 120GB drive available on the Xbox 360 Elite console. Microsoft says the drive is used to store downloaded software, TV shows, movies and other content from Microsoft’s Xbox Live Marketplace online store.

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“Microsoft has no current plans to put it on sale as a stand-alone unit outside of Japan,” said Kei Iwasaki, a Microsoft spokesman in Tokyo. According to GamerZines, the new drive will cost ¥15,540 or $172.

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Gaming

PS5 vs. Xbox Series S

ps5 vs xbox series s release date 710x400

Between the regular PlayStation 5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, buying a current-gen console is not as simple as it once was. However, you do need to make the right choice if you want to play the best PS5 games or best Xbox Series games, which is the most important factor in a gaming machine. Sure, many games are now cross-platform, but not all of them. We compared the PS5 to the Xbox Series X already, but what about the S? Let's pit Sony's console against the smaller Xbox and see which one is worth it for you.
PlayStation 5 vs. Xbox Series S: specs
Right off the bat, we need to point out that the PS5 and Xbox Series S are aimed toward slightly different audiences, and their specs do differ a considerable amount. The PS5 is aimed toward a "premium" audience looking for high-end visuals and performance, while the Series S is presented as more of an affordable option to get as many players on board as possible. You'll notice the PS5 is a more powerful system in many ways than the Series S, but that doesn't necessarily mean deciding between the two is easy. When it comes to specs, both offer custom SSDs (solid-state drives), meaning games and apps will load incredibly fast. This is a huge upgrade from the current generation's HDDs (hard disk drives), which are starting to show their age as games become much larger in scope.

The main difference between the two on the surface is that the Series S lacks a disc drive, while the standard PS5 will accept 4K UHD Blu-Ray discs. This could be a major factor for some, especially those with less reliable internet connections. The standard PS5 will cost more than the Xbox Series S, and a lower price point could prove to be the most enticing factor when choosing one over the other.

Gaming

Xbox is testing a handheld device, but it’s a long ways off

Phil Spencer at the Bethesda roundtable.

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer confirmed that the company is working on a handheld device, which has been heavily rumored for quite some time. However, don't expect it any time soon.

In a Bloomberg interview, Spencer said Microsoft said that a potential device is only in the prototyping stage at this time. Even if the team was set to bring a product to market, it would still be a few years out.

Gaming

The most common Xbox Series X problems and how to fix them

Xbox Series X

Like any other consoles, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S aren't without issues. We all hate being interrupted when playing the best Xbox games with some technical glitch. This is even worse when you're locked in on an intense multiplayer game with your headset on and are ready to go. Even after several years on the market giving Microsoft time to push out updates and fixes, there are still some issues that can crop up.

In this guide, we're going to cover the most common Xbox Series X problems, as well as how to fix them, including: