"I am happy to announce that we're doing an Xbox 360 System Update Preview program for our next release, and the opportunity to sign up is now available. We are conducting an open call for US based participants* for a public preview to help us prepare for an updated Xbox 360 disc format. This is an important update as we continually strive to improve our products and we could not do so without the help of our great Xbox community. As part of the preview program, you will receive a copy of Halo: Reach along with other possible rewards."
 

 http://majornelson.com/2011/03/29/xbox-360-system-update-preview/

Cool beans. Too bad it's only for US testing, as usual.

Probably a slightly different version of the current discs that requires testing.

Hrmm... guess that we aren't going to see a new console generation any time soon. I'm glad I just built a new computer.

Its likely a big dvd to just make games like mass effect which were 2 discs run on one.

It will have to be some sort of modification to the DVD standard. Perhaps a GD-ROM sort of thing, though I'm not sure what the purpose is. It's not like they can suddenly make the 360 play blu-ray discs with a software update.

" It will have to be some sort of modification to the DVD standard. Perhaps a GD-ROM sort of thing, though I'm not sure what the purpose is. It's not like they can suddenly make the 360 play blu-ray discs with a software update. "

DVD-15?

Likely it is just a new Ap2.x on the security sector - rather then what you think.  This ain't going to be no Sega CD, Son.
 
The update activating AP2.5 around xmas apparently caused all kinds of problems and so they only put it on like 3 games and didn't get to do their yearly ban hammer- this time looks like they are testing it out first.

Nice. Signed up!

God damn it. I'm at my parents house and Can't get my Xbox's info.... DAMN IT!

They should just switch to blu-ray and be done with it. Here ya go Sony, we will buy our discs off you. lol

TRIPLE LAYERS I'M TELLING YOU.  
 
THE LAYERS ARE IN 3D 
 
Turns out I'm not even making this shit up heck, more importantly THIS

Awesome, I just registered.

" They should just switch to blu-ray and be done with it. Here ya go Sony, we will buy our discs off you. lol "

I wonder if this is a test for a new format for the new system?  
 
They sure are stubborn about blu-ray.
 
EDIT:
 
@WinterSnowblind said:

" @MetalMoog said:

" They should just switch to blu-ray and be done with it. Here ya go Sony, we will buy our discs off you. lol "

I don't know how many times it has to be said, but Sony don't own blu-ray.  In fact, they're currently involved in a legal battle with the creators over using the technology in the PS3.  Switching to blu-ray would actually make the most sense, as it's quickly becoming the standard format.. but again, it's not like they can just magically make the tech appear in all current 360's and even if they were doing that, why would it require testing?  So it's most probably just a DVD with more storage capacity. "

" @MetalMoog said:

" They should just switch to blu-ray and be done with it. Here ya go Sony, we will buy our discs off you. lol "

I don't know how many times it has to be said, but Sony don't own blu-ray.  In fact, they're currently involved in a legal battle with the creators over using the technology in the PS3.  Switching to blu-ray would actually make the most sense, as it's quickly becoming the standard format.. but again, it's not like they can just magically make the tech appear in all current 360's and even if they were doing that, why would it require testing?  So it's most probably just a DVD with more storage capacity. "

Just signed up. That free copy of Halo: Reach was enticing enough.

Note to self, save console id and serial number on computer.

" @Cameron said:

" It will have to be some sort of modification to the DVD standard. Perhaps a GD-ROM sort of thing, though I'm not sure what the purpose is. It's not like they can suddenly make the 360 play blu-ray discs with a software update. "

This seems likely but what I think Microsoft will do is send ninja's to every 360 owners home and install a blu-ray drive at night, that's my guess anyways. "

I wonder how Bungie feels about Microsoft giving away "multiple thousands" copies of their game. :D

Anyways, I'm all for testing something to make the console better. I imagine that whatever they're testing is not only supposed to extend the 360's lifespan, but is testing for the next generation as well. I doubt Microsoft will be adopting BluRay anytime soon.

While I don't mind multi-disc games, this is kind of neat that they're taking such a huge initiative. 
 
Also, it doesn't really matter that it's only in the states... When the testing is done we'll all get the results. Well, it only sucks if you don't have Halo: Reach 
 
@animathias: Bungie gave all of the rights to Halo to MS so I don't really think they can say anything. But if they had have kept the rights... they're probably missing out on a couple hundred thousand bucks :P

Extra space is unlikely as it will have to be readable for the DVD drive, I'm thinking more along the lines of piracy protection.

" Extra space is unlikely as it will have to be readable for the DVD drive, I'm thinking more along the lines of piracy protection. "

It's an anti-piracy deal and not a larger disc format, since every little 360 game gets "leaked" a week or two at least before release.
 
e: Yeah I sat on the "Post Reply" button too long, cripes. Giving this fix two months, maybe three tops if MS have lawyers ready to send SWAT teams to hacker homes

" Note to self, save console id and serial number on computer. "

" Extra space is unlikely as it will have to be readable for the DVD drive, I'm thinking more along the lines of piracy protection. "

" @MetalMoog said:

" They should just switch to blu-ray and be done with it. Here ya go Sony, we will buy our discs off you. lol "

I don't know how many times it has to be said, but Sony don't own blu-ray.  In fact, they're currently involved in a legal battle with the creators over using the technology in the PS3.  Switching to blu-ray would actually make the most sense, as it's quickly becoming the standard format.. but again, it's not like they can just magically make the tech appear in all current 360's and even if they were doing that, why would it require testing?  So it's most probably just a DVD with more storage capacity. "

Alright. Signed up! :: crosses fingers ::

" Alright. Signed up! :: crosses fingers :: "

Why cant canada do it!

" @WinterSnowblind said:

" @MetalMoog said:

" They should just switch to blu-ray and be done with it. Here ya go Sony, we will buy our discs off you. lol "

I don't know how many times it has to be said, but Sony don't own blu-ray.  In fact, they're currently involved in a legal battle with the creators over using the technology in the PS3.  Switching to blu-ray would actually make the most sense, as it's quickly becoming the standard format.. but again, it's not like they can just magically make the tech appear in all current 360's and even if they were doing that, why would it require testing?  So it's most probably just a DVD with more storage capacity. "

No one company owns Blu-ray, it's owned by the Blu-ray Disc Association that is made up of representatives of a bunch of companies, one of which is Sony. LG isn't suing for the use of blu-ray, rather for how the blu-ray drive in the PS3 works. As for Microsoft not wanted to adopt Blu-ray just to not give money to their competitor... They already do with DVD. "

yup signed up

I signed up mostly because i really don't use my xbox and if it gets screwed up somehow, it's not a big deal.

" TRIPLE LAYERS I'M TELLING YOU.  
 
THE LAYERS ARE IN 3D 
 
Turns out I'm not even making this shit up heck, more importantly THIS "

If it's just a security update, it would be so sad. And you know people would be like "oh it's so awesome all the improvements they made and itstreams so much faster" but then it's really just new security.

Still one disc to many if you ask me...

I just signed up, but very doubtful of getting in

" @Vonocourt said:

" @WinterSnowblind said:

" @MetalMoog said:

" They should just switch to blu-ray and be done with it. Here ya go Sony, we will buy our discs off you. lol "

I don't know how many times it has to be said, but Sony don't own blu-ray.  In fact, they're currently involved in a legal battle with the creators over using the technology in the PS3.  Switching to blu-ray would actually make the most sense, as it's quickly becoming the standard format.. but again, it's not like they can just magically make the tech appear in all current 360's and even if they were doing that, why would it require testing?  So it's most probably just a DVD with more storage capacity. "

No one company owns Blu-ray, it's owned by the Blu-ray Disc Association that is made up of representatives of a bunch of companies, one of which is Sony. LG isn't suing for the use of blu-ray, rather for how the blu-ray drive in the PS3 works. As for Microsoft not wanted to adopt Blu-ray just to not give money to their competitor... They already do with DVD. "

You're still wrong. Sony own the Blu-Ray patents and everything. The association is only there to set the standards the whole industry must adhere to. Just like how Google owns Android but there are still people on the Open Handset Alliance. Sony is also part of the Windows thing (forget what it's called) but the don't make money from Windows, they just sell computers and have a say in the standards used to make Windows run on machines. "

" They should just switch to blu-ray and be done with it. Here ya go Sony, we will buy our discs off you. lol "

everyone is every-bodies competitors but it would be terrible decision on all fronts to change the format to of an xbox 360 to blu ray. Now if they start with the new console on something such as BD disc then sure, why not. 
 
Hopefully this disc format will allow for some more damn space on the disc

" @Vonocourt: That's still completely different. Sony owns the Blu-Ray disks and the diodes. The other companies own the software, codecs, DRM and other things that go along with authoring a Blu-Ray disk and making a Blu-Ray player (it's the same companies that own DVD patents, like LG). Its just like the situation with MPEGLA, different companies own patents to motion video, but they set up an independent company for a one-stop shop for getting a license to make it easier to adopt the format.  It's simply a way for different companies from suing each other. Making a Blu-Ray game means you only have to go through Sony since you aren't making a movie or anything else that would violate someone else's patents.  Some members of the Association make money from the licensing company, but only a small amount of them. "

"Though can you go more in depth about video games on blu-ray being solely a Sony deal, I'd like to know more about that since that's the first I've heard of it being that way. "

Like others, I also think it's something for anti-piracy.

@DoctorTran said:

" Alright. Signed up! :: crosses fingers :: "

Same here. I'm a little late signing up... Hopefully I'll still get in. :D

Signed up! I wonder how this is going to work out. I already have a copy of Reach though. Well, can't argue with free I suppose. C'mon FREE HD-DVD PLAYER! (jk jk)

" Signed up :D "

@Ishoturface said:

" Signed up :D "

I could not figure out how to sign up. 
 
Wow there is a big old NDA attached to this..even wants console info.