Report: Microsoft Considering XBLA Size Limits 'Case-By-Case'

Xbox Live Arcade developers who've felt constrained by the service's size limits might soon have some breathing room, as Microsoft says it's more willing now to evaluate titles on an individual basis. The recently released Watchmen game challenged all prior precedents at 1.2 GB -- given that in January 2007 the size limit was apparently 50MB, then 150MB later that year, and that Microsoft's Marc Whitten most recently announced a size limit of 350MB in May 2008. But when tech site Ars Technica decided to investigate, asking the company about the most recent precedent, Microsoft said it could make exceptions to the file size rules depending on the game. "We have set Xbox Live Arcade game file limits as a general guideline. An important part Xbox Live Arcade is easy access, and keeping file size down is a vital part of that," a rep told Ars Technica. "Equally important is offering titles with superior gameplay. We weigh both considerations on a case-by-case basis, and will make exceptions when it makes sense to ensure the best customer experience." So while the size constraints largely still stand, it seems some titles can bend the rules -- such as a game that ties into one of the season's most-hyped flicks.