Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft announced on Wednesday plans to release Xbox 360 Elite, a new version of its video game console that will sport a 120GB hard drive and HDMI port to support high-definition gameplay.

The $479 console is scheduled for release in the U.S. on April 29.

The detachable hard drive, which will also be sold as a $179 standalone add-on for the existing Xbox 360, is intended for storage of downloadable Xbox Live Arcade games, as well as gamers' personal music libraries and the TV shows and movies that can be downloaded to the device via the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Separately, Microsoft announced that it has added new TV series and movies from A&E Network, ADV Films, National Geographic and TotalVid.com to the more than 1,500 hours of content available for download on Xbox Live.

Additionally, Paramount Pictures will offer high-definition versions of films including "Braveheart," "Team America: World Police" and "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut," while Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will offer direct-to-video titles "Sublime" and "Babylon 5: The Lost Tales" exclusively in high-definition on Xbox Live.

Microsoft said that a free, HD episode of "South Park" offered on the service has been downloaded over 380,000 times.

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