Xbox 360 USB storage is live! But with some gotchas.

[Bigstack]

Joystiq broke the story that USB storage was coming to the Xbox 360; today, the update goes live. A quick download, and suddenly you're not dependent on Microsoft to sell you overpriced hard drives. Of course, the ability to use USB storage comes with a few limitations.

The storage device has to be over 1GB. You can only use 16GB of the storage device, no matter how large it is. You can use up to two devices at a time, giving you 32GB of storage. In other words, if you have a bunch of small USB sticks kicking around the house, you suddenly have a good reason to use them on something.

The official FAQ answers the question about why the usable space is limited, but the attitude seems to be that it's better than nothing. "Supporting USB storage devices up to 16GB in size is a huge increase in storage over any solid state memory storage solutions currently available for Xbox 360. Users that need more storage have options in the Xbox 360 hard drives, which are available for purchase separately."

While this is much better than spending $130 on a 250GB hard drive, the limitations dull our enthusiasm a bit. Microsoft couldn't just unlock the system so you can hook up a single, large USB drive? It is better than nothing at least, and it's available now.

[Sir Killalot]

It's awesome. Brilliant idea.

[Tactics]

F-i-n-a-l-l-y!!!!

[Bigstack]

yea this will be EPIC

[spacer]

Now can we use the stuff like videos and music from the harddrives or are they only another place for saves and dlc?

[DeUcE]

Sounds like an easy way to hack the xbox.

[McCune]

agreed with DeUcE

[spacer]

Maybe, but it might be what some people need to make multiple copies of a game if they have one installed onto a harddrive.

[Bigstack]

The 360 is already easily exploitable. You can easily take the Hard Drive off and then put it into a device like export or XSATA and you can hook the HD up to your computer to edit file (given that you have the necessary tools). This flash drive idea is actually very good. Because now just about every new game that gets released is also getting released for download on the Marketplace. These are like 5+ GB files. In essence you could get a Flash drive for each game and store all game save data on that as well. DVDs are going to go away you can simply plug in the flash drive of your choice.

[DeUcE]

They could just sell pre-loaded flash drives. And if they don't, HaloTech should.

[Sir Killalot]

So I can transfer a game like say...crackdown from my friends Xbox to a flashdrive, then bring the flashdrive to my xbox and copy the files onto my HDD from the flashdrive, then play the actual game? Since Crackdown is fully available for digital purchase on the marketplace, would that work.

[H34d SPacE]

The 360 is already easily exploitable. You can easily take the Hard Drive off and then put it into a device like export or XSATA and you can hook the HD up to your computer to edit file (given that you have the necessary tools). This flash drive idea is actually very good. Because now just about every new game that gets released is also getting released for download on the Marketplace. These are like 5+ GB files. In essence you could get a Flash drive for each game and store all game save data on that as well. DVDs are going to go away you can simply plug in the flash drive of your choice.

I remember when all my games where like that. I also remember a lot of blowing to get the cartridges to read...but awesome games back then! Looks like were bringing it back.

[DeUcE]

Just hook up a usb floppy disk drive.

[spacer]

Nice idea about Halotech selling the games on flash drives Deuce, it is an eventuality that flash drives will replace DVD's and disc's altogether might as well jump on early. :)

[Bigstack]

Taking someones flash drive and copying it wont do you any good. The system will still work the same way. the game save file will be linked to the account that you download it on. M$ is way smarter than that. When you download a game now the only account that can use it is the one it is downloaded on and the current accounts on the box can use it as long as the account that it was downloaded on is also signed in. Flash drive = just a cheaper hard dive

[Sir Killalot]

Well my plan got shot down. I am now using my flash drive to house Sir Killalot33, so it is easily transferable ;)

[Government Coffee]

and you have to format the drive you are going to use right :(?

well at lest now you can backup your game data via usb
without needing a transfer kit .:)

[Tactics]

transfer kits are free anyway, when I needed a transfer I just applied for a free one from Microsoft. I only asked for one, though they got trigger happy and sent me 3 for the hell of it.

As for USB storage, this is great! Especially with the new USB 3.0 out... the fastest shit around (USB wise anyway)...
I heard many companies are drooling on the newest USB... it's really going to be big.