SPOnG contacted Microsoft in the U.K. today for announcement news regarding price cutting for the Xbox range in Europe. This is what we were told:
We've obviously returned serve by asking when the company will be making an announcement. We'll report back as soon as we hear.
On the official side of the U.S. news, Microsoft has issued a press release containing the following gems:
Come on Microsoft Europe! Otherwise Sony'll knock off another few quid and Nintendo will start to give the Wii away in cereal packets...
"We have not announced any pricing changes in Europe."
We've obviously returned serve by asking when the company will be making an announcement. We'll report back as soon as we hear.
On the official side of the U.S. news, Microsoft has issued a press release containing the following gems:
"Microsoft Corp. today kicked off the greatest holiday lineup in video game history by announcing it will reduce the estimated retail price (ERP) of Xbox 360 by $50 (U.S.) beginning Aug. 8. Soon to follow, Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) will release its blockbuster video game title “Madden NFL 08” on Aug. 14. “Madden NFL Football,” one of the most important mass-appeal franchises in video games, was the top-selling game of 2006 and is the top-selling franchise of the past 10 years. Only Xbox 360 offers a console for all interests and budgets.
“The fact that we have been able to keep our launch price longer than any other console while retaining our leadership position demonstrates that consumers believe in the value of Xbox 360,” said Mitch Koch, corporate vice president, Global Retail Sales and Marketing Group, Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “On the eve of the best holiday games lineup ever and the launch of ‘Madden NFL 08,’ there has never been a better time to jump into Xbox 360.”
Xbox 360 will enhance the value of its entire family of consoles beginning on Aug. 8. At a new ERP of $349.99 (U.S.), Xbox 360 offers an unsurpassed experience right out of the box with a 20GB hard drive, wireless controller, Xbox 360 headset, and more. For those looking for the ultimate value and the freedom to customize their console as they see fit, Xbox 360 Core System now has an ERP of $279.99 (U.S.). Xbox 360 Core System provides everything needed to start gaming while giving consumers the ability to add new features and accessories they want. Dressed in black and equipped with a 120GB hard drive, Xbox 360 Elite will be priced at an ERP of $449.99 (U.S.) for those who want the premium games and entertainment experience. In anticipation of this year’s largest blockbuster game launch, the Xbox 360 Halo® 3 Special Edition Console will hit store shelves in September with an ERP of $399.99 (U.S.). Featuring an authentic Spartan green-and-gold finish, this console will include a matching Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 20GB hard drive, Xbox 360 Headset, an Xbox 360 Play and Charge Kit, and more.
In addition to being a great value, Xbox 360 is the only console on which consumers will be able to play all of this year’s biggest titles: “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock” (RedOctane/Activision), “Halo 3” (Bungie Studios), “Madden NFL 08” (EA) and “Rock Band” (MTV Games). Xbox 360 is also home to the most exclusive games, such as “BioShock” (2K Games), “Lost Odyssey™” (Mistwalker and Feel Plus), “Blue Dragon” (Mistwalker and Artoon Co. Ltd.), “Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action,” (Screenlife), “Project Gotham Racing® 4” (Bizarre Creations Ltd.), “Mass Effect” (BioWare Corp.), “Naruto: Rise of a Ninja” (Ubisoft), and “Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation” (NAMCO BANDAI Games). With a record-setting attach rate of 6.1 games per console sold (NPD, Life-to-date, June 2007), a new price and the greatest holiday games lineup ever, Xbox 360 has proved itself as the home of the best games and entertainment at the best value."
“The fact that we have been able to keep our launch price longer than any other console while retaining our leadership position demonstrates that consumers believe in the value of Xbox 360,” said Mitch Koch, corporate vice president, Global Retail Sales and Marketing Group, Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “On the eve of the best holiday games lineup ever and the launch of ‘Madden NFL 08,’ there has never been a better time to jump into Xbox 360.”
Xbox 360 will enhance the value of its entire family of consoles beginning on Aug. 8. At a new ERP of $349.99 (U.S.), Xbox 360 offers an unsurpassed experience right out of the box with a 20GB hard drive, wireless controller, Xbox 360 headset, and more. For those looking for the ultimate value and the freedom to customize their console as they see fit, Xbox 360 Core System now has an ERP of $279.99 (U.S.). Xbox 360 Core System provides everything needed to start gaming while giving consumers the ability to add new features and accessories they want. Dressed in black and equipped with a 120GB hard drive, Xbox 360 Elite will be priced at an ERP of $449.99 (U.S.) for those who want the premium games and entertainment experience. In anticipation of this year’s largest blockbuster game launch, the Xbox 360 Halo® 3 Special Edition Console will hit store shelves in September with an ERP of $399.99 (U.S.). Featuring an authentic Spartan green-and-gold finish, this console will include a matching Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 20GB hard drive, Xbox 360 Headset, an Xbox 360 Play and Charge Kit, and more.
In addition to being a great value, Xbox 360 is the only console on which consumers will be able to play all of this year’s biggest titles: “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock” (RedOctane/Activision), “Halo 3” (Bungie Studios), “Madden NFL 08” (EA) and “Rock Band” (MTV Games). Xbox 360 is also home to the most exclusive games, such as “BioShock” (2K Games), “Lost Odyssey™” (Mistwalker and Feel Plus), “Blue Dragon” (Mistwalker and Artoon Co. Ltd.), “Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action,” (Screenlife), “Project Gotham Racing® 4” (Bizarre Creations Ltd.), “Mass Effect” (BioWare Corp.), “Naruto: Rise of a Ninja” (Ubisoft), and “Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation” (NAMCO BANDAI Games). With a record-setting attach rate of 6.1 games per console sold (NPD, Life-to-date, June 2007), a new price and the greatest holiday games lineup ever, Xbox 360 has proved itself as the home of the best games and entertainment at the best value."
Come on Microsoft Europe! Otherwise Sony'll knock off another few quid and Nintendo will start to give the Wii away in cereal packets...
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Comments
Joji 7 Aug 2007 10:40
1/10
We'll get it eventually, I reckon just before we see Halo 3, possibly the end of this month. August 24th would be perfect in order to help push 360 Elite, Stranglehold and Blue Dragon.
Bentley 7 Aug 2007 11:56
2/10
I don't see any point buying a console that will be struggling in a year and forgotten in two. Especially one prone to keeling over. Wow, but it's got Halo 3 coming. Oooh. Like Quake, but with pea-shooters, and short to fit on a DVD. "Brilliant".
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king skins 7 Aug 2007 12:58
3/10
Bentley wrote:
I don't see any point buying a console that will be struggling in a year and forgotten in two. Especially one prone to keeling over. Wow, but it's got Halo 3 coming. Oooh. Like Quake, but with pea-shooters, and short to fit on a DVD. "Brilliant".
/rolles eyes
Joji 7 Aug 2007 13:20
4/10
Lol. Only one I see struggling is Sony. I think the three year warranty extension will keep a lot of people happy with 360. At least MS sought to fix the problem with 360, something Sony absolutely failed to do when PS2s packed up (I feel sorry for anyone who had to buy PS2 twice or more). I know who gets my support and respect more, you can decide for yourselves.
The Elite goes further to fixing the previous problems. Any price cuts will help move more units.
I know Blu Ray has greater capacity but that in no way guarantees greater games because of it (take a look at PSP vs DS as a similar example of this). In fact there's no point in even playing that card. One dvd not enough for a 360 game, developers can use two. What really matters is the effort put into the game, to enhance the experience for the player. What some don't seem to realise is this can be achieved within limits, N64 Zelda is a damn good example of this, but many haven't learned from this.
Sometimes, I wish developers etc, would stop complaining and worrying about canvas size so much and just create good, appealing and fun work. Good imagination is limitless, even with physical, worldly limits.
The Elite goes further to fixing the previous problems. Any price cuts will help move more units.
I know Blu Ray has greater capacity but that in no way guarantees greater games because of it (take a look at PSP vs DS as a similar example of this). In fact there's no point in even playing that card. One dvd not enough for a 360 game, developers can use two. What really matters is the effort put into the game, to enhance the experience for the player. What some don't seem to realise is this can be achieved within limits, N64 Zelda is a damn good example of this, but many haven't learned from this.
Sometimes, I wish developers etc, would stop complaining and worrying about canvas size so much and just create good, appealing and fun work. Good imagination is limitless, even with physical, worldly limits.
Earl 7 Aug 2007 14:37
5/10
Bentley wrote:
I don't see any point buying a console that will be struggling in a year and forgotten in two. Especially one prone to keeling over. Wow, but it's got Halo 3 coming. Oooh. Like Quake, but with pea-shooters, and short to fit on a DVD. "Brilliant".
Large Disk capacity has nothing to do with the quality of game or its content.
deleted 7 Aug 2007 20:58
6/10
king skins wrote:
Bentley wrote:
I don't see any point buying a console that will be struggling in a year and forgotten in two. Especially one prone to keeling over. Wow, but it's got Halo 3 coming. Oooh. Like Quake, but with pea-shooters, and short to fit on a DVD. "Brilliant".
/rolles eyes
sorry but how will it be struggling in a years time?, what indication do you have that this will be happening?, is there any example now of the 360 struggling or starting to struggle?, yes wow its got halo3 coming, and its got .... //Deep Breath
GTA 4, Assains Creed, Bioshock, Too Human, Resident Evil 5, Halo Wars, Blue Dragon, Two Worlds, Stranglehold, City of Metronome, PGR 4, Skate, Eternal Sonata, Sega Rally, Alone In The Dark, Virtua Fighter 5, Time Shift, Half Life 2 Orange Box, The Club, Guitar Hero 3, Fable 2, Huxley, Call of Duty 4, NFS Pro Street, Tony Hawks, The Simpsons Game, Mass Effect, Army Of Two, Brothers In Arms, Conan, Turok, Ace Combat 6, Haze, Just Cause 2, PES, FIFA, FIFA Street, Fatal Eternia, Endwar, Burnout, Devil May Cry 4, Alan Wake, Splinter Cell: Conviction, UT:III, Quake Wars, Saints Row 2, Banjo Kazooie, and on and on and on
Now at lot of those will be on PS3 also but how will they differ because they are on bluray???, time will tell but i bet the gameplay isnt any different, just because storage is avalible it doesnt mean it has to be used, guitar hero 3 wont put on 2000 tracks because bluray is avalible, PES/FIFA wont be any different between formats because bluray allows for more storage, sure bluray will help on some things in the future and may out do 360 fans by making them get up and insert disc 2, oo that will hurt.
ps, you havent played halo have you, so dont comment on it.
//rolls eyes
king skins 8 Aug 2007 08:36
7/10
shouldn't you have replied to bently rather than me?
PreciousRoi 8 Aug 2007 09:04
8/10
here allow me to rectify the situation.
PreciousRoi 8 Aug 2007 09:06
9/10
Hey you poxy git, cram what the guy 2 posts above said into your interface slot.
deleted 8 Aug 2007 12:09
10/10
king skins wrote:
shouldn't you have replied to bently rather than me?
I should of yes, my error but i think it looks better with us both rolling our eyes, :-)