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Xbox 360 Super Elite in October?

by on31 August 2009

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We suspect instead 250GB Forza 3 Special Edition


We received some curious whispers over the weekend from sources telling us that North American consumers will have a third console to choose from this holiday season that is being called the “Xbox 360 Super Elite,” which will feature a 250GB hard drive as part of the package.

At first, we didn’t know what to think, but then our sources went on to suggest that while it is being called the “Super Elite” it actually might be more of a Forza 3 Special Edition version of the Elite that will include Forza 3 as well as the 250GB hard drive.

While we have known for some time that Microsoft has been very successful selling the Special Edition versions of the Xbox 360 and in the past has offered both the Halo and Resident Evil 5 versions of the console, which have sold well. Microsoft has left the door open to doing more Special Edition consoles on a case by case basis.

Forza 3 is one of the biggest titles that the company will launch this holiday season and offering a Special Edition version of the console just might make sense, especially if they add the 250GB hard drive. What we don’t really know about the possible Forza 3 Special Edition is whether it is a special version of the console that offers something new (such as a different color), or it is just the Elite console with Forza 3 and a 250GB hard drive?

We checked with our sources about the larger hard drive, which they have been telling us is coming, and in the past our sources have told us that it would be a 320GB or 500GB model; now it seems that the latest word is that Microsoft has been able to secure some special long-term pricing on the 250GB model, but it is difficult to say who might be giving Microsoft this special price on the 250GB hard drive model. Microsoft has used different hard drive vendors in the past, but they seem to like to work with Western Digital and have used their drives most often in the past.

The news does seem to confirm, however, that a new larger hard drive is coming down the road, as we have been telling you about for some time. Looking at the latest prices, it is easy to see that going with a 250GB model does seem to work well for them from a pricing perspective.

Other than the whispers that we will hear an official announcement of this Super Elite 360 model in early October, we think it is more likely that it will be a Forza 3 Special Edition version of the console with a 250GB hard drive. We suspect that you will be able to pre-order it in early October and it will be released on October 27th as part of the Forza 3 launch. We would not be surprised if the Forza 3 Special Edition Super Elite did include a special faceplate for the console as part of the deal, but we doubt that you will get any HD cables with it.

Perhaps with Sony apparently going to offer a PlayStation 3 slim in a 250GB model Microsoft wants to make sure that they aren’t left out?

Last modified on 31 August 2009
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