Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/11/xbox360_elite_august_07/
Millions of European gamers have sat patiently beside their old standard Xbox 360s ever since the first official mention of the all-black Elite version (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/03/28/ms_announces_black_xbox_360/) waiting for word on when they'll be able to get their hands on one. Now they know - the European launch date is 24 August 2007.
Xbox 360 Elite: invading Europe in August
While American gamers may well be excused a little snigger - they've had the Elite since 29 April (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/30/xbox_elite_debuts_in_us/) - at least European gamers will get their mitts on the machine before Japanese players do - they will have to wait until 11 October (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/05/ms_names_elite_japan_debut/).
The stylish black Elite has a 120GB hard drive, an HDMI 1.2 port through which it is capable of pumping out 1080p HD images. It will also upscale DVDs too.
Sadly Microsoft remained tight-lipped about European pricing, leaving gamers to make their own rough estimates on the European Elite's price based on its US cost, which is currently around $480 (£237/€350).
It has been rumoured though that Microsoft is about to reduce the cost of all three Xbox 360 models (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/10/xbox360_price_drop/) in the US, in an effort to keep its pricing well ahead of the PS3's, which was cut by $100 (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/09/ps3_80gb_hdd/) earlier this week.
Microsoft said the Elite will descend upon the UK, Ireland, Germany and France first, with a wider European roll-out coming "as soon as we can", Shane Kim, VP at Microsoft Game Studios added.
Daytime debut for UK Xbox 360 Elite? (17 August 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/08/17/daytime_debut_for_uk_xbox_elite/
MS cuts Xbox 360 prices Down Under (15 August 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/08/15/ms_oz_xbox_price_cuts/
Microsoft cuts Xbox 360 prices (7 August 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/08/07/microsoft_official_xbox_pricecut/
45nm chips for the Xbox on the cards? (3 August 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/08/03/45nm_xbox360/
US price cut for Xbox 360 HD DVD player (26 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/26/us_pricecut_xbox_hddvd/
Retailers price up Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite (19 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/19/elite_uk_prices/
PS3 outsold Xbox 360 2:1 in Japan (18 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/18/wii_wins_in_japan/
Xbox chief abandons Microsoft for EA Sports (17 July 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/17/peter_moore_leaves_microsoft_for_ea/
Microsoft sued over alleged Xbox 360 disc damage (13 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/13/lawsuit_xbox360_disc_scratches/
Microsoft rings the changes with Halo 3 Xbox (11 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/11/halo3_xbox_edition/
Xbox 360 price set to crash? (10 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/10/xbox360_price_drop/
Official: Sony to bring 80GB PS3 to USA (9 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/09/ps3_80gb_hdd/
Red ring of Xbox death costs Microsoft $1bn (6 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/06/microsoft_red_ring_death_charge/
MS makes date for Xbox Elite Japanese debut (5 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/05/ms_names_elite_japan_debut/
How hot is your Xbox 360? (4 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/04/xbox360_temp_case/
Six Wiis sold for every PS3 purchased in Japan (3 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/03/wii_sales_outstrip_ps3/
US PS3 sales hold up as Wii, Xbox 360 numbers dip (15 June 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/06/15/us_may_console_sales/