Looks like Microsoft finally decided to release some details for their upcoming HD-DVD drive. Instead of substituting the current drive, they decided to go for an external device that looks pretty much like a Mini XBox 360 (XBox threesixty anyone?) and will cost ¥19,800 (Japanese Yen) which is approximately $169.

Will this drive meet the success that Microsoft expects it to?

I have to say that the odds are definitely against it. There has yet to be a single drive add-on for a console that didn’t flunk miserably. If Microsoft makes the mistake of releasing one of it’s killer-apps for it, they will probably be forced to also release a DVD version of it. However, HD enthusiasts will probably be happy because of this piece of hardware, which is quite cheap, considering the price of the current HD-DVD players.

And HD-loving gamers shouldn’t fear any longer. The XBox 360 will have 1080p output on their systems, all thanks to a small software update.

So, in short, 360 users rejoice due to the patch, I predict a small failure for the HD-DVD add-on, and Japanese gamers don’t care since there’s probably only 68,677 XBox-360 consoles were sold there this year.