Microsoft today announced that it will be releasing a new version of the Xbox 360, branded as the Xbox 360 Elite. This new model will include a 120GB hard drive, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a high-definition cable, and a premium black finish for the console, wireless controller and Xbox Live headset. The system will also include the composite and component cables included in the previous Xbox 360 packages. The Xbox 360 Elite system will have an estimated retail price of $479.99 and will be available on April 29th in the US and Canada.

"Today's games and entertainment enthusiast has an insatiable appetite for digital high-definition content," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "Xbox 360 Elite's larger hard drive and premium accessories will allow our community to enjoy all that the next generation of entertainment has to offer."


Current Xbox 360 owners will be able to purchase a stand-alone 120GB detachable hard drive that will be sold separately for an estimated retail price of $179.99. This system will include a transfer cable and software so that players can migrate their existing data over to the new drive.

Matching black accessories will be sold separately, including a black wireless controller for $49.99, a black play and charge kit for $19.99 and a black rechargeable battery for $11.99.

GameSpy had the chance to chat with Albert Penello, Director of Global Platform Marketing, Xbox about all the latest regarding Microsoft's Xbox 360 and he also gave us clarification on a few details.
Albert Penello, Director of Global Platform Marketing: We're feeling great about the Xbox 360, sell-through is strong and our install base is where we want it to be. We have had the #1 title on all platforms for the last four months, with Gears of War being the top-selling game for two months, followed by Capcom's Xbox 360-exclusive Lost Planet, and now with Crackdown. Our attach rate is very strong, and our console is the only system with multiple million sellers, Gears of War, Call of Duty 2, and Madden NFL 07. Our Xbox Live arcade service is also doing remarkably well, and UNO, for example, has been downloaded over a million times since it was launched on the service.

Another important change in the market is that a lot of games and franchises that were previously PlayStation exclusives are coming over to the Xbox 360. Capcom's Devil May Cry 4 was announced the week before last, and before that it was Sega's Virtua Fighter 5. Things like Grand Theft Auto and Guitar Hero were previously tied to Sony and are now coming over. We have our own exclusives coming up, like BioShock, and the next Splinter Cell is exclusive to Xbox 360. There's also a little game you may have heard of called Halo 3. It's going to be a pretty awesome year if you add all that up.