Sony Corp.'s U.S. video game arm on Tuesday released a hard drive for the PlayStation 2 video game console that comes bundled with the latest title in one of gaming's most popular series.
Sony Computer Entertainment of America said the 40 gigabyte hard drive, retailing for $99, would be preloaded with "Final Fantasy XI," which can be played online with other PS2 users and with people on PCs.
Access to the game is free for the first 30 days, after which subscriptions will cost $12.95.
The hard drive has been eagerly awaited by PS2 owners since the console was released in 2000. Sony had said in the past that it would not release the drive until it had the content to support it.
Sony executives have also said that the hard drive would be the final piece needed before launching a version of the AOL service for the PS2.
The PS2's primary competitor, Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox, comes with broadband networking and a smaller hard drive built in.
