Xbox 360 FAQs

Unveiled to the world on MTV on Thursday, May 12, 2005, the Xbox 360 is the future-generation game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Xbox 360 ignites a new era of digital entertainment that is always connected, always personalized and always in high definition. It is the only system designed with a singular platform vision that combines the most-powerful hardware with intelligent software and services advancements.

Every Xbox 360 game is designed for high-definition, wide-screen televisions. Regardless of the television Xbox 360 connects to, gamers will experience smooth, cinematic experiences that far exceed anything they’ve seen or felt in games before. And these experiences are never more than a click away.

You've got questions and we have the answers. Here is the first version of the Xbox 360 FAQ. Have another Xbox 360 question that we haven’t answered here? Email xbox360faq@teamxbox.com and we’ll continually update our Xbox 360 FAQs as additional information becomes available. Enjoy!

• General Xbox 360 Questions
  
  
  • Hardware->Console
    
    
  • Hardware->Peripherals:
    • Controller
    • Faceplates
    • Memory Unit
    • Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote
    • Xbox 360 Headset
    • Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter
    • Xbox Live Camera
    • Xbox 360 VGA HD AV Cable
      
      
  • Software->Backward Compatibility
    
    
  • Services->Xbox Live

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General Xbox 360 Questions


1. What is the official name of the Xbox successor?

The official name of the Xbox successor is the Xbox 360.


2. Who is the company that makes the Xbox 360?

Microsoft Corporation is the developer of the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system.


3. Who designed the Xbox 360?

The Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system was designed by Microsoft, in conjunction with two of the most innovative design firms in the world: San Francisco-based Astro Studios and Osaka, Japan-based Hers Experimental Design Laboratory Inc; which worked together to craft a sleek, stylish system that conveys the very essence of the Xbox 360. In addition, Microsoft chose IBM, ATI and SiS at its technology partners for the design of the Xbox 360 hardware.


4. What does the “360” stand for?

Microsoft’s main objective when designing the Xbox 360 was to “create a living entertainment experience powered by human energy.” The idea is to create a gaming platform that offers players unique experiences that will differ based upon an individual’s playing style and their decisions rather than the game itself, thus making the gamer the center of the entire experience and letting everything associated to revolve around them.


5. When will the Xbox 360 be available?

At the Tokyo Game Show 2005, Microsoft announced that the Xbox 360 will arrive on store shelves Tuesday, November 22 in North America, Friday, December 2 in Europe, and Saturday, December 10 in Japan.


6. In which territories will the Xbox 360 launching?

This 2005 holiday season, the Xbox 360 is projected to launch in North America, Europe, and Japan simultaneously; a first for a videogame console. The Xbox 360 will launch globally in calendar year 2006 in Asia Pacific and Latin America.


7. What is the price of the Xbox 360?

Microsoft announced at the Leipzig Game Convention that the Xbox 360 will be available for as little as $299.99 in the US. (€299.99 in continental Europe /£209.99 in the UK) starting this holiday season. Microsoft also announced a Premium model with hundreds of dollars worth of accessories for $399.99 in the US (€399.99/£279.99).


8. How much will the Xbox 360 games cost (average)?

The same as current generation: $49.99 USD for new releases. Microsoft has confirmed that they don’t have plans to charge more than fifty bucks for their first-party next-generation titles, although some games will have special editions that will be sold at $59.99.

The price of games is often determined by individual publishers and retailers. Therefore, many third-party games are currently listed to retail for $59.99.


9. Which games will be available at launch?

The following Xbox 360 games will be available in North America on or before the console is launched Nov. 22:

1. Amped 3 (2K Sports)
2. Call of Duty 2 (Activision Inc.)
3. Condemned: Criminal Origins (SEGA Corp.)
4. FIFA Soccer 06 Road to 2006 FIFA World Cup (Electronic Arts Inc.)
5. GUN (Activision)
6. Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft Game Studios and Rare Ltd.)
7. Madden NFL 06 (Electronic Arts)
8. NBA 2K6 (2K Sports)
9. NBA LIVE 06 (Electronic Arts)
10. Need for Speed Most Wanted (Electronic Arts)
11. NHL 2K6 (2K Sports)
12. Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft Game Studios and Rare Ltd.)
13. Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie (Ubisoft)
14. Project Gotham Racing 3 (Microsoft Game Studios and Bizarre Creations Ltd.)
15. Quake 4 (id Software and Activision)
16. Ridge Racer 6 (Namco Ltd.)
17. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 06 (Electronic Arts)
18. Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (Activision)

10. What is the difference between the Xbox 360 Core System and the Premium edition?

	Xbox 360 Premium	Xbox 360 Core System
Console	X	X
Wireless Controller	X	optional
Wired Controller	optional	X
Component HD AV Cable	X	optional
Composite Cable	X	X
Hard Drive	X	optional
Play Original Xbox games	X	optional
Ethernet Cable	X	optional
Headset	X	optional
Xbox Live Silver	X	X
Xbox Live Gold 30-day Trial	X	X
Premium Chrome Details	X	Not available
Price	$399.99 - €399.99 - £279.99	$299.99 - €299.99 - £209.99

11. Does the Xbox 360 come with a hard drive?

Only the Premium model comes with a hard drive. The Xbox 360 Core System does not come with a hard drive but users can upgrade their Xbox 360 console and incorporate at any time the Xbox 360 Hard Drive.


12. What is the capacity of the hard drive?

The Xbox 360 hard drive is 20 GB.


13. Is the Xbox 360 hard drive internal?

No, the Xbox 360 hard drive is detachable and upgradeable.


14. What disc formats will the DVD drive support?

The DVD drive supports for DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, WMA CD, MP3 CD, JPEG Photo CD.


15. Will it support HD-DVD or Blu-Ray?

At the moment, the Xbox 360 has a standard 12X DVD-9 (dual layer) drive. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates revealed that the Xbox 360 video may incorporate in the future the next-generation DVD format developed by Toshiba. To read more about that comment, click here.


16. What is the The Guide?

The Guide is an entertainment gateway that instantly connects players to the Xbox 360 experience: your games, your friends, your music. It is a brand new interface designed exclusively for the Xbox 360 that can overlay on top of any content that is being played on the Xbox 360; whether that is a game, a DVD movie, a picture or a music visualization. There is no need for the user to leave a game or any other content being played on the Xbox 360 to access The Guide. You can receive game invites from friends while playing games, watching movies, or listening to music.

17. What happened with The Dashboard?

The dashboard as you knew it on the Xbox no longer exists and it has evolved into The Guide. All the functionality found in the Xbox Dashboard can now be found in the Xbox 360 Guide.


18. What is The Ring of Light?

Divided into four quadrants, the glowing Ring of Light is a system that combines hardware and software features into one entity, that together with the Xbox Guide Button on the controller, connect you to your games, digital media, and Xbox Live. The Ring of Light will also indicate such items as player specific notifications and is fully programmable by developers for possible use in games.


19. What is Xbox Live Marketplace? The Xbox Live Marketplace is a one-stop shop to download new game trailers, demos, and episodic content, plus new game levels, maps, weapons, vehicles, skins, and more. Accessible to everyone who establishes a broadband connection with their Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace lets you personalize and extend your experience, on demand.

20. What OS does the Xbox 360 use?

The Xbox 360 uses a custom operating system. In an exclusive interview with TeamXbox.com, Todd Holmdahl, Corporate Vice President of the Xbox Product Group at Microsoft, explained, “The best way to think about the Xbox 360 OS is that it is an extension of the Xbox 1.0 OS.” To read the complete interview, click here.


21. Why was the Xbox called a “videogame system” and now the Xbox 360 is being referred to as a “videogame and entertainment system”?

The Xbox videogame system was Microsoft’s first foray into the videogame industry. Microsoft had to avoid its PCish look and prove it was serious about his home console. Now that Xbox is an established player in the industry, Microsoft is extending the entertainment capabilities of the Xbox platform by incorporating a vast array of new features related to digital entertainment.

The Xbox 360 is an integrated music, picture, games, and movie center. You can use the Xbox Live Camera to video chat or send video messages to friends across the globe via Xbox Live. You can also connect to a Windows XP Media Center PC and stream recorded television, videos, movies, music, and photos from the MCPC straight to the Xbox 360.

You can connect your portable music device to enjoy your favorite music while playing a game or chatting with friends online.

You can enjoy and share your digital photos with friends and family.

You can keep in touch with instant messaging via Windows Messenger and Xbox Live.


22. Is the Xbox 360 a computer?

The Xbox 360 it is not a personal computer in the sense of PC as a productivity tool. However, its hardware capabilities and technical specifications make the Xbox 360 more powerful than any desktop computer available on the market at this time.


23. Is the Xbox 360 a Media Center PC?

No, the Xbox 360 is not a Media Center PC. It can connect to a Windows XP Media Center PC to stream content, but it is more of a Media Center PC amplifier/extender than a Media Center PC substitute.

24. What are the physical dimensions of the Xbox 360?

The Xbоx 360 weights 7.7 pounds (3.5 kg) and is: 12.15 in (309 mm) wide x 3.27 in (83 mm) high x 10.15 in (258 mm) deep.


25. Is the Xbox 360 smaller or bigger than the current Xbox?

The Xbox 360 is smaller than the Xbox. You can see a side-by-side comparison here.


26. If the Xbox 360 Core System doesn’t come with a hard drive, nor a memory unit, how would I save games?

Unfortunately, in order to save games you’ll need either the Xbox 360 hard drive or an Xbox 360 memory unit.


27. I have seen a black Xbox 360, would that Xbox 360 be available for sale?

That black Xbox 360 is the current Xbox 360 development kit and for the moment, Microsoft doesn’t plan to sell a black Xbox 360.


28. Why does the Xbox 360 hard drive costs ten times more than a PC hard drive of the same size?

The Xbox 360 hard drive is a 2.5” hard drive, similar to those found in notebooks. The hard drive that you buy for your PC are 3.5”. Considering that notebook parts are always more expensive than desktop PC components, it is reasonable that the Xbox 360 hard drive costs more than a desktop PC hard drive of the same size.


29. Will the Xbox 360 games use the hard drive for game saves and caching like the original Xbox did?

In a special chat held after the Xbox 360 price announcement, J Allard said: We think game designers have all kinds of innovative ideas that the hard drive will be used for. Use of the hard drive is not limited to game scenarios. Like Xbox 1 you will be able to do things like rip and store music and don't forget about live scenarios and all the downloadable content.


30. Will the Xbox 360 work on any TV that Xbox is able to work on?

Yes, the Xbox 360 will work on any TV that also works with the current Xbox. Even if the Xbox 360 has been designed to play games in HDTV 720p (1280x720) mode with 5.1 surround sound, the Xbox 360 will also work with regular TV that has NTSC or PAL and stereo audio capabilities.


31. Xbox 360 is supposed to be a digital media hub, Can it play Divx or Xvid content? My current DVD player can but what about 360?

No, the Xbox 360 won’t be able to play MPEG-4 variants other than Windows Media.


32. Since there are going to be two versions of the 360 controller (wireless and wired), will we be able to choose which version we want at launch, or will the console just come with one of the versions?

No, you won’t be able to select which type of Xbox 360 controller you are getting with your Xbox 360. Those who get the Xbox 360 Core System will get the wired controller while those who acquire the Xbox 360 Premium Edition will get a wireless controller.


33. If my TV has a 4:3 aspect ratio, will I still be able to play games at full screen?

Of course you will. The Xbox 360 is compatible with both 16:9 (widescreen) and 4:3 aspect ratio TVs. Just make sure that you set the video settings properly so the Xbox 360 knows which type of TV you have.


34. I live in the U.K and I’m planning to order my Xbox 360 from the U.S, as it is much cheaper than here in the U.K. I wanted to know if it would be compatible here in the U.K.

Just like current generation consoles, a console designed for North America (NTSC) won’t work on Europe (PAL) for the simple reason that games are region locked. So if you get an US Xbox 360, you’ll have to purchase NTSC games because those titles sold in Europe won’t work on your North American Xbox 360.


35. Can I change the look of the dashboard?

Yes, with the Xbox 360 you can personalize your dashboard too. Available at the Marketplace and included also in some games, you’ll be able to change the appearance of the Xbox 360 blades by installing new themes.


36. Will developers continue to develop games for the Xbox or will all be for Xbox 360?

Yes, developers and publishers will still support the Xbox throughout 2006 and beyond. Just as an example of how serious developers and publishers are about Xbox development after the launch of the Xbox 360 you have EA’s BLACK, developed by Criterion Games.


37. I have been reading on the Internet reports that there might be an HD DVD drive added to the Xbox 360 in the future. Should I wait until next year to purchase this newer, upgraded Xbox 360 with added HD DVD capability?

You shouldn’t wait for an add-on that might never see the light of the day and that will only be used for HD DVD movie playback. Microsoft’s Japan Xbox division head Yoshihiro Maruyama revealed that if the HD DVD drive is ever developed, it will only be used for movie playback capabilities. No Xbox 360 games will be recorded in the new format.


38. If I purchase the Xbox 360 on Nov 22nd, will I be able to purchase the add-on HD DVD component for it later? Will the Xbox 360 have an expansion port or some sort of way of connecting it to this HD DVD drive?

Microsoft has not revealed if the HD DVD drive, if ever released, will be an optional add-on for existing owners of the Xbox 360 or if it will simply replace the existing 12X DVD drive on the Xbox 360, upgrading the retail model to HD DVD.


39. Now that the Xbox 360 will boast USB ports, is it feasible to assume that the next-generation of gaming will combine RTS games into its lineup and take cue from computer game sales?

Although there has been some attempts to bring RTS games to the Xbox, including Shattered Union and Goblin Commander, we haven’t had the chance to experience games like Age of Empires or Command & Conquer. The fact that the Xbox 360 has USB ports doesn’t guarantee we’ll be able to plug in PC input devices, like a mouse and keyboard, plus this time all Xbox 360 peripherals must be approved at a silicon level in order to work for the console. If PC peripherals ever are compatible with the Xbox 360 it will completely up to Microsoft.


40. Will the Xbox 360 play video from any Windows XP computer, or just media center PCs? What codecs is it going to play? DivX?

In order to stream content from a PC, you’ll need the Media Center edition of Windows plus the latest Update Rollup that will allow you to stream digital music, videos, photos, and standard and high-definition television and movies from Media Center PCs to any television in their home via the Xbox 360 gaming system.

The good news is that Windows Vista, the next-generation Windows due out in 2006, will be Xbox 360 compatible right out the box, without requiring a Media Center edition of Vista.

Regarding video codecs, the Xbox 360 will be play anything that a Windows Media Center PC streams to it, so the question of the codec applies more to the PC, not the Xbox 360 which simply act as an extender.