The Xbox 360 Elite is set to debut this weekend and in some areas it’s already being sold.  Many of you are looking forward to it being your first 360 console, upgrading or perhaps simply buying the 120 gig hard drive for your current Premium 360.  If you want to upgrade or get the new hard drive, there is a bit of data transferring involved.  Details are being released on how to get your content from your current Xbox 360 to the new Xbox 360 Elite or to the new 120 gig hard drive.

The guys at Gamerscoreblog have some very good detailed information about the process and Major Nelson follows that up with a video as well.  One quick note is that although the Xbox 360 Elite doesn’t come with a migration kit, you’ll be able to get one free of charge.  Details on how are coming soon.

The process is clearly simple to do.  The one thing that bothered me with all of these details though is the fact that users who opt to upgrade to the Elite will now have to be logged into Xbox Live in order to enjoy most of their content.  Things like Xbox Live Arcade games are licensed content that when transferred, will no longer work offline.  This is because they’re still tied to the console from which you transferred them. 

Say what DeaconBlade?  Yep, licensed content like this doesn’t get transferred when upgrading to the Elite so you have to stay logged in to Xbox Live in order for anyone to enjoy the content or play the Arcade games.  Bummer to say the least.  I know personally that I’m not always connected to Xbox Live.  As good as Xbox Live is, I’m just not always connected to it and I do a lot of playing during that time.  Not to mention I have friends over and other relatives that play as well when I’m not signed in to Xbox Live.

I think that would deter me from upgrading to the Elite knowing that I had to always be connected in order to enjoy “my” content.  I guess there’s a reason behind it but I’m failing to understand it.  What if my connection is down or what if I don’t pay my internet bill and lose my connection for a month?  (there are people in that boat don’t lie)  What happens during an Xbox Live maintenance schedule?  Can I not just sit back and enjoy some Pinball FX while I can’t connect?  Nope.  I smell teh suckage.

The good part about all this transfer business is that buying the 120 gig hard drive doesn’t present that problem.  So if storage is your thing, then I suggest you simply purchase the 120 gig hard drive, transfer your content to it and continue to enjoy things as you always have.  It doesn’t present any of the licensed content issues that upgrading does.

Make sure you understand these things before you make your decision!