Microsoft more than doubles size limit for XBLA games

When Xbox Live Arcade was first conceived, games had to stick to a strict file size limit of 50 MB, a size deemed impractical when large titles like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night made their appearance on the service. MS upped the size cap to 150 MB, a limit that has served the platform well up until now, with Capcom’s hefty offerings on the horizon. In response, The ‘Soft has now increased the size limit to 350 MB, more than double the previous cap.

Capcom had recently shared concerns over the 150 MB limit when Super Street Fighter Turbo HD Remix Alpha Super Pow Wow Mega XXX Hong Kong Phooey Planes Trains & Automobiles Jim Henson’s The Labyrinth was facing problems meeting the restriction. While many claim that the previous low size caps “encouraged innovation,” developers will surely rejoice at having more space to play with. Good news for them, bad news for our hard drives.

“We’ve been listening to our partners, listening to our customers to try and get a feel for what’s right,” stated Xbox Live portfolio manager David Edery. “We don’t want the size limit to hit the roof because we think there’s some value in promoting small pick and play experiences that don’t cost $20 million, it’s good for the ecosystem.”

This is generally a smart move for Microsoft, especially with Nintendo’s WiiWare generating a lot of buzz. We’ll see if it helps keep the XBLA service on top when the big guns come out later this year.  

[Thanks, TrailerParkJesus]