USB Storage Coming to Xbox 360 April 6

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Microsoft's Major Nelson has confirmed reports that USB storage is coming to the Xbox 360.

We've been hearing rumors about the possibility of USB storage for the Xbox 360 for a while now.  On Friday, Microsoft's Major Nelson confirmed the reports and said a system update to allow USB storage would land April 6.

"On April 6th, we will be releasing a system update over Xbox LIVE for your Xbox 360 that will allow USB flash drives to be used for storing profiles, game saves, demos and more.  I’ve been testing this feature out for a few weeks, and I have to say it’s really great. Once you take the system update on April 6th, you’ll be able to connect your USB flash drives to your console and head over to the memory section to configure your new storage device."

Nelson writes that when you connect your drive to your Xbox, the will conduct a one time performance and integrity check to confirm the drive is working properly. With that out of the way, you're free to configure how much storage to use on the device, with the option to go up to 16GB. Though USB hard drives "might work," you'll still get the same 16GB limit that's present with the flash drives. Users can connect two devices at once for a limit of 32GB.

You can use any 1GB+ flash drive you like but Microsoft is partnering with SanDisk to bring out pre-configured Xbox-branded flash drive. Expect to see these in May.

In related news, a hacker claims to have gained access to Major Nelson's online account, and Microsoft is now investigating.

Jane McEntegart
16 Comments Comment from the forums
  • tipoo
    This is great, no more buying overpriced Xbox hard drives. The 250GB one that is coming out works out to 52 cents per gigabyte, whereas a PC hard drive usually lies betweeh 12-16 cents per gigabyte. Add in an external USB enclosure and you're good to go.
    Reply
  • TomsSound
    16GB tipooThis is great, no more buying overpriced Xbox hard drives. The 250GB one that is coming out works out to 52 cents per gigabyte, whereas a PC hard drive usually lies betweeh 12-16 cents per gigabyte. Add in an external USB enclosure and you're good to go.
    Reply
  • zoemayne
    who cares about an xbox
    Reply
  • soky602
    This is great and all but why the 16Gb limit?
    Reply
  • JMcEntegart
    zoemaynewho cares about an xbox
    Sigh. Lots of people care.
    Reply
  • lamorpa
    zoemaynewho cares about an xboxYou do zoemayne, unless you have such an empty life that you take the time to read articles and post comments about something that you are not interested in.
    Reply
  • Regulas
    You mean MS is finally allowing it's followers to do this, they should all get down on their knees and kiss MS's feet. All hail the great proprietary Crapbox 360. Can I buy more add ons at ridiculously marked up prices like their WiFi is.
    Reply
  • phoenix777
    using USB storage on consoles must be a really tough technology, that's why it took them so long to do it, right?
    Reply
  • warmon6
    soky602This is great and all but why the 16Gb limit?
    Yeah really....... im surprise that it's not higher scene there are usb flash drives reaching 256GB. (although im doubting anyone has such a large flash drive. it makes the 360 250GB hdd look cheap. :lol:)

    But there plenty of cheap 32 GB flash drives.
    Reply
  • bourgeoisdude
    warmon6Yeah really....... im surprise that it's not higher scene there are usb flash drives reaching 256GB. (although im doubting anyone has such a large flash drive. it makes the 360 250GB hdd look cheap. ) But there plenty of cheap 32 GB flash drives.
    These things are always about money. If they allowed full size, most people'd just start buying the 360 Arcade versions and buying external hard drives for them. MS makes alot of money off of their hard drives and Elite consoles. They make less/lose more on the Arcade consoles--unless they sell them 360 hard drives with the consoles.
    Reply