Report: New disc format for Xbox 360 adds 1GB of space

A "highly placed" development source close to Digital Foundry has said that the “updated Xbox 360 disc format,” being tested by Microsoft will add 1GB storage for the console's game discs.

The maximum space for game data on 360-discs currently stands at 6.8GB with 1GB of the 7.95GB dual layer DVD alloted to anti-piracy and other security measures. Digital Foundry believes the video partition has "either been drastically reduced or omitted completely in the new format Microsoft is looking to roll-out."

Those who are accepted into the beta of the preview program are getting Halo: Reach as a test disc-reward, and will obviously contain whatever format Microsoft is testing. Since users' Xbox 360 DVD drive could be from either Samsung, Hitachi, Benq or Liteon depending on the model's year - it's no wonder the firm is looking for "multiple thousands" of testers.

Reach itself took up 6.6GB of disc space, so DF believes "ether padding or additional content will have been added to this new edition," or data is being allocated to areas of the disc "the video partition would have previously occupied."

Developers would appreciate the extra 14-15 percent disc room, obviously, but it might also be a way for Microsoft to implement new anti-piracy measures.

"MS will introduce XBG3 - this will add more AP checks, CVI (content integerity) checks, increase the disc size and adds a new layer for protection issues - all in the 20500 sdk," said Xbox 360 DVD firmware hacker "Commodore4eva", before adding "bring it on."

Likely someone will spill the beans soon once the discs start rolling out to users.

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