Retailers predict price-led Xbox 360 sales surge
Cuts fuel demand boom
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Microsoft’s recent decision to cut the price of the Xbox 360 range will fuel UK sales, according to execs at some of Blighty’s biggest electronics retailers.
Tricia Brennan, MD of Game UK, said in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz that the console’s new price points mean that all three models now appeal to a wider variety of consumers, from once-a-week gamers and to the hardcore set.
Steve O'Brien, from gaming stores Action Replay and Gameshop, told the site that the Xbox 360’s new lower pricing puts it at a distinct advantage over the PlayStation 3.
"I think there is sufficient light between the two price points now for 360 to steal a significant percentage of the 'undecided' market, and that will undoubtedly impact on Sony's sales," he forecast.
Jonathan Hayes, Commercial Manager at HMV Games, hinted that the price cuts could spur a surge in demand akin to that seen for Halo 3 last year. At the time, Microsoft claimed that the title was the world’s fastest selling videogame, notching up sales in excess of $300m (£150m/€190m) during its first week.
However, Hayes warned that the PS3 and Xbox 360 are still different products and so will appeal to different audiences irrespective of cost. For example, film fans will opt for the PS3 because of its Blu-ray reader, while hardcore gamers will choose whichever console has their favourite title exclusively.
The Xbox 360 cut – which takes effect from today – means that the Arcade model now costs £130/€180 and that the Premium model has an RRP of £170/€240. The flagship Elite has been reduced to £230/€300.
COMMENTS
@Charles Tsang
Amazon have a 720p (and that's all you get out of 95% of games) projector for under £400. You know it makes sense. Or at least more sense than replacing a perfectly good CRT with an LCD that costs twice that, and still has a screen size half what the projector would do.
@First AC
You're an idiot.
Viva Pinata == Poor mans Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing being a well established Sony brand then? Next you'll be telling me that the Zelda tune should have been played at the Malaysian PS3 launch.
Banjo-Kazooie == Poor mans Ratchet & Clank
Yeah thats right because Ratchet & Clank was around before Banjo wasn't it?
Scene It, Lips, Forza
Already proven to be miles better than the Sony counterparts you mentioned. FAIL
Fable 2 == Poor Mans Folklore
Give it up!!! You're digging a large trench and are proving you haven't even played the games you criticise!!!
You really are an idiot Mark.
Fire Sale!!!!
Every man and his dog has been playing up the story of Xbox outselling PS3 for weeks now, and in all that time not one of the Xbox variants has made much of a dent in the top 50 sellers in either amazon(uk) or amazon(US). I check every day cos I find it sadly interesting. It's plain old BS and MS thinks it can spoon it out, because we'll all lap it up with a smile.
I own a PS3, but I wish success for Xbox, Wii and all because with the competition, lies the hope of reduced prices and perhaps I'll pick up and Xbox now (though not just yet. I want to see that the RROD has be sorted first).
Either way with cost reducing as they are, we're all winners... except thos poor suckers that "wanted it now, I SAID NOW".
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