Xbox 360 HD DVD Add-On: $199.99

Microsoft put the high-definition rumors to rest Wednesday, announcing at its X06 event in Barcelona that the HD DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 will arrive in the U.S. in mid-November at a cost of $199.99 USD. The package will come with a copy of "King Kong" on HD DVD and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote.

Microsoft previously said the add-on would launch in Japan on November 22 at a price equivalent to $169 USD. With a $200 price tag, the total combined cost for the technology will run $500 or more, the same price as Sony's forthcoming PlayStation 3, which includes a Blu-ray drive. European gamers will need to wait until 2007 for the HD DVD add-on, and will pay 199.99 euros or £129.99. A separate fall update to the Xbox 360 will add support for 1080p high-definition output.