Microsoft has confirmed to SPOnG that there will not be a similar cut in the UK. A Microsoft representative told us, "Pricing is handled on a region-by-region basis. We do not have a price drop in this region to announce."
This follows announcements in Japan and, more recently, in the USA that Microsoft's box will be slashed... in price.
In North America, Microsoft has just significantly escalated the console war, cutting the price of the Xbox 360 Arcade to below that of Nintendo's Wii.
The Xbox 360 Arcade will now retail at $199 (€137, or £112), $50 (€34, or £28) less than the Wii, which carries an RRP of $250 (€172, or £140). In the UK, the Arcade is already cheaper than the Wii by £20 at £159.99.
Similarly, the prices of the premium console and the Elite have been dropped by $50 (€34, or £28) putting them at $299 (€206, or £168) and $399 (€275, or £224) respectively.
That means that the Elite, with its 120GB hard drive, costs the same as the cheapest, 80GB PS3.
The price cuts will take effect tomorrow.
Microsoft is keen to tell us, "History shows that more than 75 percent of all console sales happen after the price falls below the $200 mark."
Microsoft has clearly had a sub-$200 360 on its mind for some time. All the way back in June last year David Hufford, a director of Xbox product management, said, “We are well aware that the sweet spot of the market is really 199 bucks.''
As you may remember the middle, premium 360 console recently had the amount of hard disk space it carries bumped up to 60GB. Similarly, Japan recently saw across the board price cuts on the 360.
Microsoft has been in need of a boost. Over the last few months the 360 has been outsold by the PS3 in America, while both systems are trailing behind the Wii.
This follows announcements in Japan and, more recently, in the USA that Microsoft's box will be slashed... in price.
In North America, Microsoft has just significantly escalated the console war, cutting the price of the Xbox 360 Arcade to below that of Nintendo's Wii.
The Xbox 360 Arcade will now retail at $199 (€137, or £112), $50 (€34, or £28) less than the Wii, which carries an RRP of $250 (€172, or £140). In the UK, the Arcade is already cheaper than the Wii by £20 at £159.99.
Similarly, the prices of the premium console and the Elite have been dropped by $50 (€34, or £28) putting them at $299 (€206, or £168) and $399 (€275, or £224) respectively.
That means that the Elite, with its 120GB hard drive, costs the same as the cheapest, 80GB PS3.
The price cuts will take effect tomorrow.
Microsoft is keen to tell us, "History shows that more than 75 percent of all console sales happen after the price falls below the $200 mark."
Microsoft has clearly had a sub-$200 360 on its mind for some time. All the way back in June last year David Hufford, a director of Xbox product management, said, “We are well aware that the sweet spot of the market is really 199 bucks.''
As you may remember the middle, premium 360 console recently had the amount of hard disk space it carries bumped up to 60GB. Similarly, Japan recently saw across the board price cuts on the 360.
Microsoft has been in need of a boost. Over the last few months the 360 has been outsold by the PS3 in America, while both systems are trailing behind the Wii.
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Comments
schnide 4 Sep 2008 09:44
1/3
Can someone tell me, does the Xbox 360 have a really weird and possibly hard-to-turn-on power button? Or rather, power disc, since it seemed to have no ability to depress it whatsoever on the only 360 I've ever used.
It was my ex's, and she was convinced that's just how it was and had a certain knack, but I've been a proud owner of a working pair of hands for the past 28 years and I'm sure it could've been better designed if so.
Bizarrely, that's one of the biggest things stopping me from getting a 360. Oh and the wanky dashboard, but I believe that's being overhauled soon.
It was my ex's, and she was convinced that's just how it was and had a certain knack, but I've been a proud owner of a working pair of hands for the past 28 years and I'm sure it could've been better designed if so.
Bizarrely, that's one of the biggest things stopping me from getting a 360. Oh and the wanky dashboard, but I believe that's being overhauled soon.
David Gerard 4 Sep 2008 11:56
2/3
Microsoft Japan is already actually paying people to take the machines, with little success."We hope more people will be able to enjoy Xbox 360," said marketing marketer Takashi Sensui, "and we can stop enjoying quite so many of them. We also have this fine pile of HD-DVD drives ... Wait! Come back!" http://notnews.today.com/?p=63
deleted 4 Sep 2008 19:04
3/3
Big Mistake!, why drop the price in the US where 360 sales a very healthy, yet in europe the PS3 is far outselling the 360 a £99.99 360 would be a perfect xmas present for anyone! in fact i would put my money on a £119.99 scene it and at the movies casual pack ready for xmas. MS are going down in my estimation each day and Sony (somehow??) are going up!