Microsoft presses on with Xbox 360 in Asia

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

April 29, 2008, 11:31 AM

Microsoft will cut prices between 5 and 20 percent across four of the five regional markets where it sells its Xbox 360 console..

While the Xbox 360 has generally done quite well outside of Asia, the company has seen its share of struggles in the region. The price cuts are obviously an attempt to reverse this trend.

Currently, the Xbox 360 is sold in Hong Kong, India, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Tuesday's move affects the price in every market except for India.

The biggest drop was in Singapore, where the price is now 499 Singapore dollars ($366 USD), down 19.5 percent. in Taiwan, the price dropped 17 percent to $10,360 Taiwan dollars ($341), and in Hong Kong $2,499 Hong Kong dollars ($321), down nearly 11 percent.

On Thursday, the price will fall five percent to 369,000 won ($369) in South Korea as well.

Microsoft is just cutting the price of the standard model in all countries, except for Singapore, where it is also cutting the price of the Arcade model to 399 Singapore dollars, and the Elite to 699 Singapore dollars.

If previous price cuts are any guide, sales should increase. After a similar price cut in the European market, Microsoft saw sales of the Xbox 360 in the region double. Globally, the console needs a shot in the arm -- it has fallen to third in worldwide shipments.

Daiwa estimates the Xbox 360 will only ship 9.1 million units in the year ending March 2009, versus 14 million for the PS3 and 24 million for the Wii.

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By Hollywood__

posted Apr 29, 2008 - 4:10 PM

My 360 Elite runs cool from day one, no scratches, no problems. Sorry pit, go play Mario on your only console, the technologically retarded Wii. I have one too (for my extremely spoiled children).

Nice try though. You are beneath me in every possible way and always will be.

Score: 0

By pitdingo2

posted Apr 29, 2008 - 6:18 PM

Personal insults are the best you can do?

Score: 0

By cescam66

posted Apr 29, 2008 - 8:05 PM

what i can and want to do is beat the crap out of you

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Apr 29, 2008 - 10:19 PM

Beat the crap out of me or that douchebag?

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

edited Apr 29, 2008 - 6:51 PM

No, it's the least I can do.

I'm extremely lazy. Besides, that wasn't an insult, it's a fact.

Score: 0

By BrokenHALO

posted Apr 29, 2008 - 5:16 PM

And of course you represent every Xbrick360 and the 30% failure rate is a made up number....

Yea.

Score: 0

By pitdingo2

posted Apr 29, 2008 - 2:19 PM

About time they tried something, however consumers outside the USA are more interested in the quality of the console and with over 30% failure rates, scratched disks, green smoking peripherals, and burned down houses they don't buy it.

Only Americans are buying the M$ 360 in any numbers.

Score: 0

By preinterpost

posted Apr 29, 2008 - 5:46 PM

You mean like the iPhone, which has to be subsidized down to a fraction of the US cost in Europe for anyone to buy it?

Funny enough I am actually thankful to you (in the slim case you are not just full of wind and your mum actually buys you Apple products). Giving Apple momentum is good for innovation and competition. MSFT had it just too easy with XP.

Ooops. Now look what you did. Got me off topic...

Score: 0

By pitdingo2

edited Apr 29, 2008 - 7:44 PM

I agree with that. The iPhone is too expensive, even in the USA. It is, however, the best smart phone out there, at least in the USA.

If the USA had the open-ness of the rest of the world, the iPhone would not be locked down like it is, and not as expensive as it is. I think it is fair to say all phones would be cheaper in the USA if the cell vendors did not have everything so locked down.

Score: 0

By cescam66

posted Apr 29, 2008 - 8:07 PM

i would disagree with "the best smart phone out there" because of my personal choice but hey i like the touch feature just like on my psp(its a mod that i've made... want more info?? google is your friend YOU F U C K!)

Score: 0

By Danno

posted Apr 29, 2008 - 1:37 PM

WHere are the POS3 fanbois to bash this topic?
Anyone?
No fanboi guarantees that the 360 will gain any ground in this market yet still holds stong numbers world wide?

Score: 0

By BrokenHALO

posted Apr 29, 2008 - 2:14 PM

troll

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Apr 30, 2008 - 9:43 AM

troll

Score: 0

By BrokenHALO

posted Apr 30, 2008 - 1:18 PM

Thanks for agreeing with me mate... that was such a troll comment by Danno.

Score: 0