DivX and Xvid Support on Xbox 360, XBLA Price Cuts, Minors Can Become Adults

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Microsoft has announced more details of the upcoming Xbox 360 fall update, the free download that will add new functionality and features to the system when it arrives next Tuesday, December 4.

Along with the Xbox Originals program and increased social networking, the company promises "enhanced video codec support" for MPEG-4 Part 2. "Our users should find that most of their DivX and Xvid files will work because they're under that umbrella," Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg told Joystiq.

The company has provided a table specifying video formats supported by the Xbox 360. More technical details on video playback are available official blog of the Xbox development team, which also supplies complete details of the forthcoming update. It had been widely rumored that support for the DivX codec would be added to the system, especially since that functionality was recently confirmed for the PlayStation 3.

Another change is that Microsoft will permanently lower the price of several Xbox Live Arcade titles as part of its new Arcade Hits initiative. Included in the program are Marble Blast Ultra, Small Arms, and Zuma Deluxe, which previously sold for 800 Microsoft Points ($10) and will now sell for 400 Microsoft Points ($5).

Lumines Live!, which dropped in price a few months ago, and Bankshot Billiards 2 will be part of the Arcade Hits program at the 800 Microsoft Points ($10) level. Both debuted at 1200 Microsoft Points ($15).

Greenberg also confirmed that those who have made the transition from minor to adult since they registered their accounts will finally be recognized as adults, allowing them access to the full gamut of Xbox Live features.

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    November 30, 2007 9:27 AM

    divx and xvid yes please

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      November 30, 2007 9:31 AM

      Yeah, I really hope they do is.

      I already enjoy watching stuff via my 360, but having to do without the vlc batchfile encode step would make it much more fun.

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      November 30, 2007 9:32 AM

      I updated. You got it buddy.

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      November 30, 2007 9:50 AM

      Yeah, that is huge news, I can't wait! No more transcode360 and XPMC

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      November 30, 2007 9:53 AM

      This is awesome news.

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      November 30, 2007 10:04 AM

      [deleted]

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        November 30, 2007 10:23 AM

        Of course its not.

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        November 30, 2007 10:36 AM

        Can't please everyone.

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        November 30, 2007 10:42 AM

        x264 in MKV format can be easily demuxed (via Videora 360 converter's "MKV PASSTHROUGH" mode)

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        November 30, 2007 11:22 AM

        lol, comon dude. Stop being a twat

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          November 30, 2007 11:39 AM

          [deleted]

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            November 30, 2007 11:46 AM

            because people have been clamoring for this, it comes out and you just complain. DIVX and XVID are pretty much the standard these days, if you've switched you're not going to have any luck for quite some time

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        November 30, 2007 12:35 PM

        So, are you in the majority? I kind of doubt it.

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          November 30, 2007 12:52 PM

          I'm pretty sure he didn't say "Still not good enough for anyone".

          I'm in the same boat - it's cool, and will be cool if/when it shows up on the PS3, but doesn't really help me watch funsubbed anime when a lot of groups have moved to MKV containers, so I'll still be using TVersity and transcoding.

          Great news for people who want to watch ripped movies and TV shows though, which I'd guess is the majority.

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          November 30, 2007 12:59 PM

          [deleted]

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        December 1, 2007 10:40 AM

        I love mkv as much as the next guy, but there are some major problems (Haali's and Matroska splitters both crap out at 1080p resolutions, in some cases). I can see them waiting for it to mature a little, sadly.

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      November 30, 2007 10:47 AM

      excellent maybe now I will be able to retire my xbmc to another room in the house

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      November 30, 2007 10:54 AM

      Now, please MS, allow playback from an USB HDD :(

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        November 30, 2007 11:09 AM

        the little chart says that works.

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      November 30, 2007 11:06 AM

      Hmm. Now what do I do with that 3rd Xbox1 I got for XBMC.....

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      November 30, 2007 11:10 AM

      Support chart says it doesn't work when using the 360 as a media center extender. That's odd (and disappointing).

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        November 30, 2007 11:11 AM

        I see that I'm about the fifth person to bring this up. :-)

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