Due to the memory requirements of the new Xbox 360 Experience dash update, which needs at least 128MB of storage space to store all its crazy avatars, gamers who own rubbish old Arcade models and don't have a hard drive or memory card are stuffed.

Or could've been stuffed, but now aren't stuffed, as Microsoft is GIVING AWAY memory cards and cheap hard drives, and has also set up a web site to explain what freebies you can get - XboxStorageUpgrade.com.

If you're an "active" Xbox Live member with no hard drive or have just a cheap old 64MB memory card, Microsoft will give you a 512mb memory for free or sell you a 20GB HDD for £12.99. Plus "active" Xbox Live players who own memory cards of all sizes can get the HD for £12.99 as well...

If you haven't played on Xbox Live for a year and don't own a memory card, MS will sell you a 20GB hard drive for £19.99 so you can get on-board the NXE party bus to casual gaming town.

It's all a bit complicated, especially as the new Xbox 360 Experience dash is supposed to be appealing to the sort of "mainstream" gamers who may have just picked up a cheap Xbox 360 Arcade recently and won't be particularly impressed when it tells them it requires additional expense in order to work properly.

Imminent PR disaster, or generous move by the software goliath?

(Via MCV)

Related posts: NXE and Xbox.com | New dash - November 19

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