512MB memory card for 360, Arcade games up to 150MB

News - MS push the Arcade's boundaries

Good news for Xbox 360 gamers currently possessing the hard-drives-less Core pack, fans of the Arcade, or those who like taking their gaming-related files around with them (en masse), because it has been today revealed that Microsoft are planning to release a 512MB memory card in the not too distant future.

Predictably, Microsoft's latest move is aimed at further boosting the popularity and reach of the Xbox Live Arcade - Redmond's download service centered around smaller and retro titles. Currently Arcade games are generally limited to 50MB in order to fit onto the presently standard 64MB memory cards, and therefore allow owners of the Core system to participate.

This vastly increased memory card will allow developers working on Arcade titles to go far beyond the previous 50MB limit, while still not excluding Core gamers who previously had no way of actually saving the game data.

In tandem with this product announcement, MS have revealed that Arcade games can now be up to 150MB in size, three times the previous figure, which should produce some more complex titles and help the Arcade better compete with burgeoning rival services from Sony and Microsoft.

For a limited time, the 512MB memory card will come complete with Arcade favourite Geometry Wars pre-installed, with a release on April 3rd said to be on the cards. The memory unit will cost 50 USD, 38 Euro, or 26 GBP. A price cut for the standard 64MB card is expected at the same time, slashing about 25% off the previous price. More as we get it.