Microsoft cuts Xbox 360 prices
And so the price war continues
Microsoft has announced a price cut across the Xbox range in the US, but Europeans will have to wait before they see any markdowns. From tomorrow, stateside gamers will be able to pick-up a Premium for $50 less, in addition to a $30 cheaper Elite system or $20 cheaper Core.
The Premium model will now retail for $350, while the Elite and Core models will cost $450 and $280 respectively. The price cuts follow several weeks of speculation from gaming analysts and online rumours.
The firm has yet to say whether price cuts are planned outside the USA, which is likely to further infuriate European gamers who have already been forced to witness several Xbox ‘firsts’ in the US. These have included the first Elite model delivery and a $20 price cut for the Xbox 360 HD DVD player .
The new pricing structure means that the Xbox range now falls more closely into line with that of Sony’s 60GB PS3 price, which last month was cut by $100.
Microsoft also took the opportunity to unveil the US retail price of its anticipated Halo 3 Special Edition console, which will retail for $400. The post-apocalyptic green system will ship with a wireless controller, headset and 20GB hard drive. Halo will be sold separately, of course.
Microsoft was not available to comment today.
COMMENTS
MS and Sony...
MS doesn't give a flying fudge outside the US.
But guess what: Sony doesn't give a flying fudge outside *Japan*. As well as most of the Japanese gaming industry; the Japanese versions for popular and not-so-popular games have much much more extras.
And some games don't even get English or any other language for humans release. Ever tried playing an RPG in Japanese? Try searching Macross games, some of the best ones made for PSX were only released in Japan. There's no much difference with US companies being US-centric and Japan companies being Japan-centric. The difference is ... well the Japanese actually do have culture and are very literate.
Xbox 360 n brief halo question
i think 2 justify console cost y cant they reduce software and peripheral prices? They r extortionate!
(Btw n e1 else heard the rumours of a halo film?.,..)
Title
Still not buying a Sony or Xbox until the rip off UK price hiking stops. Got a WII though, and it's great fun.
European gaming console
I know it's starting to get off-topic, but reading the few topics speculating about a European gaming console, I can't help throwing in speculations of my own.
Nokia took such a beating with the N-Gage, that I don't think they're not about to try again anytime soon.
Seeing how important it is to have exclusive games, I'm thinking video game developpers could be quite succesful. Atari is now a French company and I think the many nostalgics of the Atari VCS would jump on the opportunity to get a nextgen console with the Atari logo on it... and maybe some woodgrain?
"Free"
"To be fair the UK version includes (on amazon at least) a free second controller, free HDMI cable and two free games (from a very limited selection), which is arguably worth £108."
Forgive me for being petty, but charging more for something that includes "FREE" items, that one that doesn't, strikes me as not being particularly free..
