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Microsoft to drop Xbox 360 UK prices by 30 GBP

By Scott M. Fulton, III, BetaNews

September 16, 2008, 11:26 AM

In a highly anticipated move given that Japan and North America have already been treated to price cuts, Microsoft UK is relieving the burden for British gamers, dropping the basic 60 GB HDD-equipped Xbox 360 to £169.99.

Microsoft confirmed to BetaNews this morning that a wave of price cuts that began two weeks ago in Japan and then followed up the following day in the US and Canada, has now officially reached Europe. Beginning this Friday, customers should expect to see price drops of about 15%.

The basic 60 GB hard drive model will sell for £169.99 or €239 elsewhere in Europe, a drop of 30 pounds. The "Arcade" low-end bundle will sell for £129.99 or €179, a drop of 30 pounds there also, or 23%. And the Elite Console will sell for £229.99 or €299, a drop of 30 pounds from £259.99.

Based on the information BetaNews received this morning, there may be no immediate changes to the bundling of accessories and software with these three price tiers, though Microsoft could still make some changes before the holidays.

Advance word of the pending price drop came inadvertently for some customers, who sneaked a peek at the Christmas catalog of major British retailer Woolworths.

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By foxfyre

posted Sep 16, 2008 - 11:47 AM

If MS can do this while still turning a profit, it is great strategic marketing - as their primary competition is Wii.

And Sony is the BIG loser as they have lost over $3BILLION (yup, BILLION!) on their PS3 and they cannot lower prices and hope to recoup their investment.

So in light of this, both the Wii and the XBox360 become more competitive and the PS3 is further marginalized in from a market perspective as they slowly sink financially.

Sony is not is a good situation here folks.

Score: 0

By terminalx

edited Sep 16, 2008 - 1:05 PM

Careful you are going to tick someone off with that 3 Billion from a ps3 fanboy...

"ZOMG xbox360 suxxors LOLeleventy!!! RROD"

or my favorite

"2008 is definitely the year of the ps3 its going to trump all over the x360"

I believe they can, their console has been out for 3 years now typically around that time is when console makers start cutting prices.

They started making a profit back in March I believe?

Score: 0

By Paul Skinner

posted Sep 16, 2008 - 12:24 PM

If Microsoft are still pulling a profit then I think they've won this time.

I still won't be buying one, as I want Gran Turismo 5 (which, as expected, is delayed) which will only be PS3.

I think perhaps that the PS3 was a move too far in to the future for it to be sustainable by Sony (parts are too new and expensive to make).

It's a great shame to see as the PlayStation was and is groundbreaking in many ways.

I hope they can still afford to make a PS4.

/A resigned PlayStation fan

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Sep 16, 2008 - 4:21 PM

It was groundbreaking(except for the controller and online). The problem is like you say they priced themselves out of the market. A lot of console users are casual gamers and just not willing to spend that kind of money. I have been saying this since the PS3 price point was announced.

Score: 0

By terminalx

posted Sep 16, 2008 - 12:38 PM

Isn't this what Dreamcast did?

Technology newer then everyone else

3DO did the same thing too

Where are they now?

/ps3 owner/wii/pendng xbox360

Score: 0

By Niro

posted Sep 16, 2008 - 1:57 PM

Wasn't a big reason the dreamcast failed the ease of software piracy??

Score: 0

By Paul Skinner

posted Sep 16, 2008 - 12:53 PM

Yes, it's exactly what the Dreamcast did.

Score: 0

By zakc

edited Sep 16, 2008 - 8:11 PM

I think their (Sony's) only real problem, is that they're no where near the 360 in terms of on-line and social usage. If they could get a credible foot in with social gaming then people could well justify the high price. Because after all it is a blu-ray player, and probably the best one (blu-ray player) of them all.

The party play is what makes the wii so damned attractive to purchase. And xbox live is what keeps me on my 360. I desperately want GranTurismo 5, but it's still a long way coming. Till then there's ample stuff on and on the way for the xbox.

I hope very much that there is a price drop in the UK. We do tend to get left till last or just left, when it comes to offers. The price drop may well be enough to make some catch up on the Wii.

Score: 0

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