Microsoft plans to release a 512MB Memory Unit for the Xbox 360 in April and drop the price of its original 64MB memory unit.

The size of Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade games also will jump from 50MB to 150MB, reports our colleague Zoe Mutter from IDG sibling publication Techworld.com.

The 512MB unit will ship worldwide on April 3 and be priced at $49.99. It will come pre-loaded with the Xbox LIVE Arcade game Gemoetry Wars: Retro Evolved. The original 64MB memory unit will be reduced in price from $39.99 to $29.99.

Besides expanded storage, the new Memory Unit will let Xbox 360 owners store and transport their gamer profile and save game data. Microsoft also says they'll be able to download exclusive content from Xbox kiosks in retail outlets.

Expanding the game size limit of the Xbox LIVE Arcade will open up the game design possibilities for developers, enabling them to create more advanced features, Microsoft representatives add.

The new size limit offers developers "continued opportunities for innovative game development" while ensuring "gamers on Xbox LIVE can continue to easily access, download and play all Xbox LIVE Arcade games," says Chris Early, product unit manager for Xbox LIVE Arcade.

http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/003827.html

Will we be able to store Video/music that are donwloaded via Live here? Actually, this is just a stop gap. The real fix is just allow saving to our connected PC's or better yet, enable the USB ports for USB HD's.

Who in their right mind would buy a 64MB memory unit for $29 when they could get one with 8 times the capacity for only $20 more? :confused:

I use them to shuttle my profile around between my two 360s. For that use 64MB is fine.

With 4 gamers in my family, I'll probably look to pickup another one cheap on ebay...