We’ve already had the Xbox 360 Premium and Elite. Both are, of course, fine gaming machines with the best games catalogue in the next-gen field. But come autumn 2008, we predict both will be rendered obsolete by a new model. We'll call it the Xbox Ultimate.If our guesstimate is correct, this PS3-mauler will benefit from all manner of killer features, including 1080p HDMI output, built-in Wi-Fi, hi-def audio output, cooler 65nm hardware architecture and a near-silent fan.Once the Xbox IPTV service is in full swing, we're hoping you'll be able to record TV shows to its beefier 320GB hard disk and watch live TV shows via your broadband provider.But the piece de resistance? Well, fingers-crossed for a built-in HD DVD drive. Let Round 12 with the PS3 commence...
Essentials Xbox 360 Ultimate Price: £TBC On sale: TBC Contact: Xbox official site
floor3013 December 31, 2007 14:38
It will beat the ps3? To do that it'll have to have an argos-catalog of extra features, a much more desirable menu, and HD-DVD will have to beat Blu-Ray in the 'Great Format War', which for the moment i cant see happening.
Playos January 3, 2008 03:18
PS3 is on the matt already... if MS didn't do anything they will probably win out the "High end" and Nintendo takes the "Low end".
My prediction... the 360 Ultimate will have a combo HD/Blu drive. Why? Because it will effectivly kill Blu-Ray as a movie format. How could it do that? isn't it better to have more players? No, not if they are at the expense of a flagship product that requires more purchasing later.
Consoles lose money... games make money. Sony will have a still expensive blu-ray player, while MS will have a cheap combo player. Each company will sell the console at a lost (though MS will be less because of experience in manufacturing and bulk purchasing with greater sales) and games will be a happy bonus in addition to movie sales. Sony can't make a combo PS3, if they do every company will produce the cheaper of the formats (HD) exept them. Sony can only win if Blu-Ray wins outright... a combo world where both are supported helps HD alot more. Also MS has more online video sales and for those who wont buy until a winner or stalemate appears they will go that rought.
MRJONEZ January 4, 2008 16:40
Who cares about all this extra crap they Microsoft bolt on to compete with Sony ? Bottom line is the games people & the 360 is hammering the play station on that front. I'm no fan boy, in fact I gave up a PS3 & went back to the 360 because of the lack of software & the fact that I'd played all its games on my mates 360 last year. Sony wont shift any of these things till they start concentrating on the games rather than the media aspect. It's nice that they both do other things nut its a games console people ! Face facts - the future of homes media is streaming content & not hd-dvd vs blue ray. Storage will be the next frontier mark my words before you get to weighed down with choices over which format to adopt because home streaming will be here before you know it.
vgrahame08 January 8, 2008 08:41
Actually all the 360 needs to beat the PS3 is games oh silly me it's got those. Anyway, who except kids would use a games console as thier media player.
jammey February 19, 2008 17:46
Sony will love the death of HD DVD. If Microsoft want to have the most advanced console on the market they will have to come begging for a Blu-ray drive to put into the Xbox 360 Ultimate and beyond.
This means that Sony will start to make money on every Xbox sale as well as its own PS3.
You've got to smile at that......
Crazy Kid December 6, 2009 14:50
jammey, not only Sony is making Blu Ray players. floor3013, the 360 has a great menu and nice functions.