Microsoft came through tonight with a press release announcing its $50 price cut for the Xbox 360 Pro (with a 20 gigabyte hard drive) model, which drops from $349 to $299 in the U.S. and Canada. It is pretty much on par with what everybody predicted, including us. But it’s not as exciting as some had hoped; the price cut is more like a clearance sale, getting rid of the older models so that the company can still sell a model with a bigger hard drive for the same $349 price.
Yes, for those of you who still want to give Microsoft $349, now you can buy a version for that price with a 60-gigabyte hard disk. I’m just waiting for Sony’s release now to complete the picture by saying something along the lines of: “No way, our $399 (40GB) and $499 (80GB) models are still bargains, considering you get a Blu-ray player.”
Seriously, Sony has said they’re not going to cut prices during E3, but there is a rumored new model coming in August.
The upgraded Xbox 360 Pro will come with a 60GB drive starting in early August, while the 20GB version starts selling for $299 effective today. Albert Penello, Xbox director of product management at Microsoft, said in a statement that people need more space to store digital content on the Xbox 360. You can use the machine to download music, movies, and game content. Since a 20GB version can hold about just a couple of HD two-hour movies, it’s not surprising that consumers want more storage.
Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Arcade, which has no hard drive, will continue to sell for $279. (They might as well discontinue that model.) And the Xbox 360 Elite with a 120GB hard drive will continue to sell for $449.
Don’t expect Nintendo to budge on the $249 price for the Wii console.
Tags: co:microsoft, co:nintendo, co:sony
1:52 am
Ray J Celebrity Gossip | Microsoft confirms Xbox 360 price cut and new 60-gigabyte model said:
[...] waiting for Sony’s release now to complete the picture: “No way, our $399 (40GB) and $4 Source: Microsoft confirms Xbox 360 price cut and new 60-gigabyte model Who Would Be A Worse Mom? Paris or Lindsey? Vote Now And Get A Free iPhone. Ray J Used This [...]
9:31 am
Microsoft replaces 20GB Xbox with 60GB version | Microsoft News Tracker said:
[...] the base electronics and on hard drives make it all doable at a profit or not too much of a loss. Don’t expect Nintendo or Sony to follow suit though: I’m just waiting for Sony’s release now to complete the picture by saying something [...]
12:51 am
Get ready for live blogging from E3 in Los Angeles » VentureBeat said:
[...] with Microsoft’s press conference in the big West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. Microsoft already spilled the news of its Xbox 360 price cut, but there will be more news. Then Square Enix will have a small press conference starting at 1 pm. [...]
8:31 am
Updated: Microsoft confirms Xbox 360 price cut and new 60-gigabyte model (Dean Takahashi/VentureBeat) | NewsMeToday said:
[...] Category: Techmeme | source article link Dean Takahashi / VentureBeat: Updated: Microsoft confirms Xbox 360 price cut and new 60-gigabyte model — Microsoft came through tonight with a press release announcing its $50 price [...]
2:18 pm
E3 2008 - Geral « Rumble Pack - Are you ready to rumble? said:
[...] Microsoft anuncia corte no preço da Xbox 360 nos EUA [...]
6:59 pm
E3 2008 - Microsoft « Rumble Pack - Are you ready to rumble? said:
[...] Microsoft anuncia corte no preço da Xbox 360 nos EUA. [...]
6:21 pm
Monthly NPD video game sales: Sony overtakes Microsoft, Nintendo keeps rocking » VentureBeat said:
[...] Sony are going to have to think hard about their pricing as consumers face $5 a gallon gas prices. Microsoft introduced a new model and discounted its models with smaller hard drives on Sunday, while Sony announced a plan on Tuesday to rejigger its own PS 3 [...]