Xbox 360 weighs in at $299 to $399

Exactly as we thought they would, Microsoft's announced the official base price for the Xbox 360 at $299, with a $399 version available (no surprise there either). The $299 version will come bare with a wired controller, while the $399 version will have a 20GB drive, wireless controller, headset, and remote. We're still on the fence about forking the product to make it more affordable, but hey, not our company!

[Via Planet Xbox360]

[AJ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

sweeet!!! $399 here i come!!! wut kinda cheap ass would buy th $299 version?

[J-Bob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

No hard drive on the entry-level model...does that mean you'll need MEMORY CARDS for save data?

[Justice @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Those bastards! I thought they said at E3 that a hard drive and wireless controllers came standard!

[Hacp @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

You can't really blame craposoft for doing this... I mean they want to make moola.....

[xVariable @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Developers will write to the lowest common denomenator, end of story.

So, not only are the next crop of consoles already obsolete relative to current, moderately specced PCs but, thanks to this move, they look that much less appealing relative to current gen consoles. Good work MS (and Sony, which will do the same thing, apparently).

[Huey2k2 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

The hard drive and wireless controller are standard..... On the $400 version :P

And I plan on buying the $400 version, this kind of makes me laugh though, if the 360 with a HD and wireless controller is $400, I can only imagine how much the BS3 will ring in at.... $500 anyone?.

[The1 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

STUPID STUPID STUPID.............

MS is really shooting themselves in the foot. Instead of looking at growing and keeping a stellar install base, they want to be greedy. The two price points will confuse buyers. I do not think this idea will work. MS willd drop the HD-less model by January 2006. MS is making sure Sony keeps the lead.

BAD MOVE IMO.

[xVariable @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Not to start a flame war, either but, frankly, consoles suck IMHO.

Personally, I haven't owned a console since the dreamcast and, even then, it was only due to the piracy hype surrounding it. PCs are a more versatile device that does so much more than gaming (and you pay more for that extra functionality, yes).

[Huey2k2 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

To all complainers. You will still be able to buy a 360 for $300, what is the issue?. MS has already said that the HD will not be required to play games, it will basically only be used to save game files, and to swap media beetween boxes. If you are someone who really really worries about something like wether or not your 360 will have a HD, then you probably already have enough money to afford one with a HD in it anyways.

The fact is MS wants to turn some kind of profit off this, wouldn't you in their situation?. Also, for $400 you are getting quite the gaming machine, I dare you to try and build a $400 gaming PC with the specs that a 360 has. Get over yourselves.

[pee-o'd @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Hmmm, guess which version everyone will buy? MS just made the $299 version to make everyone feel better by giving them an option.
*begin rant*
This is the kind of crap they do in the automobile industry....offering different trim packages. In the future, console prices will be so high that we will need take out a 3 year loan to pay for it.
*end rant*

[Hacp @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Ok, after the initial shock, I have a little rant, and a few questions. First is that the Xbox360 will suppsedly take counter measures to stop people from installing an OS on the Xbox... That is a nono in my opinion. I mean, if they pay the extra $$ for the HD, then at least let them install an OS.

The 2nd gripe is that they don't at least include a wireless controller with the 300 dollar package. I mean, you can take away the HD, headset and everything, but you showed off the Xbox360 having the wireless controller, and many people expect to get one....

Finally, I have a question. Will regular external HDS work with the 360? I ask this because supposedly, the Xbox360 will require specific code or whatnot to run controllers or headsets, but will it require that code to run an external HD? Can you store your game info onto an external HD? Also, does the fact that you can't run 3rd party acessories on the xbox360 unless the maker pays a rolalty to microsoft mean that there won't be any keyboard/mouse games??? I originally wanted an xbox360.. But it looks like I might fork over the 500 bucks and go with the PS3...

[jc @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Just when I think I have decided what system I am going to 'invest' in, I get news like this.

You kids can be the early adopters of this overpriced toy... I am going to stick with the current generation of consoles.

.oO(hmm, I wonder if this blunder has anything to do with J Allard bumping his head too hard when he crashes his mountian bike)

[mingistech @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

399 isn't really that bad for a consel..

i mean, a high end PC Video Cards can run over 500 bucks.. so this is quite a bargan.

I know the poster above is a Wintendo PC fan.. but i rather not deal with patching a system for gaming.

Macs for Work.. Consels for Play.

[Greg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Can you put your own hard drive in the 360? If one can, you can take the 299 version and put a larger hard drive in it your self on the cheap. I don�t need the hassle of charging my wireless controller or having to have a remote (I have enough dame remotes). screw the 360; I think I will just buy a high end graphics card and another Gig of ram, so I can play good games on my computer.

[l @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Only news to the unintelligent.

[xVariable @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

The upshot is that the Nintendo Revolution is looking better all the time (if one assumes, safely, that Sony will follow suit).

I won't buy any of them, regardless of what happens, but market competition is never undesirable.

[Hacp @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

High end graphics card with about the same power as the RS500 will cost around 375 dollars......(7800GT).

[jg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

companies always rave on about how the hard drive allows them to stream data so why take it out? companies are going to be reluctant to make games that implement the hard drive and so the owners with the hard drive will have a 20gb hard drive for reletivly small game saves-something a memory card would do just fine

[l @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Also, here is the actual news article (no quotes from MS directly, its shoddy reporting but I still believe it to be true):

August 17, 2005
latimes.com
Microsoft Sets Price for Xbox 360 Versions
Alex Pham

Microsoft Corp. said its next-generation Xbox 360 game console would cost $299 to $399 when the device is launched this holiday season.

The $299 version will come with a wired controller, but will not have the 20-gigabyte hard-disc drive, wireless controller, headset, Ethernet cable and wireless television remote control included in the $399 version.

Sony Corp., which said it would launch PlayStation 3 in the spring, has not released a price for its new console.

"This will put pressure on Sony come holiday of 2007 because by then Microsoft will cut their premium price to $299 or below, while the PS3 will still be north of $399," said P.J. McNealey, an analyst at American Technology Research. Meanwhile, Nintendo Co. cut $20 off the price of its Dual Screen hand-held console to $129.99.

[tellute @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

This just in from Major Nelson on skype:

"The Cheapest price for Xbox will have a 20 GB HD and a wireless controller. You cant expect to log onto Xbox Live without a hard drive. Xbox Live is one of the pivotal features of the Xbox 360 console. Also we announced the wireless controller will be standard as the wired controller that you saw in pictures is used for security purposes in gaming conventions and public viewing. LA Times reporting is wrong, I will post about this on my blog later on in the day."

Lets wait and see what's really true before making any sweeping statements.

[jp @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

How long till we get Linux on this thing? Wait... sorry I forgot the new true measure is how long till it's running OS X...

Seriously though xbox 360 + linux = good cheap (powerful!) computer.

[thies @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Entry model will be close to 400 with having to buy mem cards as well.

Too expensive, not buying.

[jg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Especialy as microsoft has given us an oficial keyboard thier practically askin for the360 to run an os

[Hacp @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Ok the powerful part isn't that true, since the PPC 3.2 GHZ processors are neutered. Don't be fooled by the 3.2 GHZ part. And also, I think microsoft said that they will do anything they can to prevent an OS from being installed... Sony however is taking the opposite approach.

[soupbun @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

wild guess, but Nintendo's Revolution strategy is looking sweeter and sweeter with articles such as these. Larger library off the bat, better specs than current consoles for the same, low price point as current consoles. It's only a matter of time before a consumer backlash occurs. Entertainment media isn't THAT important to consumers. These arent' cars, for christ sakes, where further engineering produces real practical results. And it's obvious the industry is trying really hard to avoid commoditization by making it fancier and fancier to justify the price. They're just trying really hard to squeeze money out of a subset of the current customer base who wants to be early adopters (read as LOSERS) but doing little to attract new customers. I'm not even sure if this will attract current customers, knowing that current customers are probably REALLY happy with what they got right now. I don't know if ppl really want to cut out a quarter of their weekly takeaway just to upgrade to glamorous gaming.

[jspiker @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

MS is a bunch of monopoly greed mongers. They are selling a product that they are going to make a profit off initially, the bad thing is they are making this crap version one that shouldn't even come out! How in the world can this support the old games? anyone? MS has just lost a customer sony may be next if they make a bone head decision like this.

[jon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

FOR ALL OF YOU DISSAPOINTED bY THE HIGH PRICE...
DON'T BUY IT WHEN IT FIRST COMES OUT !
If you refuse to waste money on the first generation of Xbox360's,

#1 You will cause Microsoft massive profit losses and they will know it is due to the high $400 release price.

#2 When PS3 hits the shelves, MS will be forced to reduce the price of the allready failing XBOX even lower than they would have reduced it anyway.
You people don't seem to understand that the most effective way to show your discontent with a product's price is to BOYCOTT it.

To be perfectly honest, I think having an XBOX come with a controller, Hard drive, HEADSET and media remote, is a "FAIR" price considering the original Xbox Live package costed around $40 -$60 and the DVD kit costed $30. However, I refuse to pay that much money for a system. I waited till XBOX dropped to $150 before I bought it and it was the best move I ever made. By the time I got it, MS had worked out all the kinks and user complaints and I got the Controller S - which I really like.

I'm gonna buy a Ps3 when its price drops and later on by an XBOX 360 to replace my XBOX.

[Sarah Brabazon-Biggar @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I can live with a big initial investment, but I gotta figure they're going to charge at least $60 for the games. I'm still having a hard time bringing myself to pay $50. I really love playing games on consoles, but it's getting to the point where it's really difficult to justify the expense. I mean, heck, why not just take up polo?

[peeweejd @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

this is BS. This is just another rumor (and is probably a very old rumor).

MS said the top selling games will be backwards compatible. The backwards compatible part comes from the hard drive.

MS did not say that you will have to purchase anything extra to play the Xbox games on a 360.

[jon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

THE XBOX 360 is a CONVERGENCE DEVICE.
It's like having a Media Center PC without the PC.

You need the HARD DRIVE to store Videos, Picture Slideshows, MUSIC and if the rumors are true - you're suppossed to be able to record video to it like a PVR.

If you get the base model Xbox 360, YES YOU WILL NEED TO BUY MEMORY CARDS.
If you get the premium xbox360, You won't need M.Cards, you will just store everything to the HDD.

Think about the fact that you're getting the MEDIA REMOTE and the XBOX Headset!
I think $400 is actually a "FAIR" price for the premium XBOX360,
I'M JUST NOT GONNA PAY THAT THOUGH.

[Yet another matt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

how do these prices compare to the original xbox release prices? my � - $ conversion is a bit rusty all these years on from the original release

the price is bound to drop as soon as the ps3 comes out anyway, microsoft want us geeks (or in business terms 'suckers') who want the latest technology to buy at release and make their money back, as soon as thats over with and more games come out the price will drop quickly

[fl33c3bot @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Personally, I'd buy the $299 one and hack my own HD into it. With today's HD prices, that 20gb drive is worth about $5, not $100 extra.

[Kuyu @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

If I remember correctly both the PS2 and Xbox launched at $299. The $399 model is ~220 Pounds and ~325 Euros. Of course M$ will price appropriatly regardless of exchange rates. They have an entire risk management department to handle the foreign currency risk/fluctuations.

$399 model here I come!!!

[djSyndrome @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

The last console in America to launch at $399 was the Sega Saturn.

And we all know how well *that* did.

[jspiker @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

http://www.majornelson.com/

[BraveQuail @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Stop complaining, i know its inevitable for people to complain about the pricing of a product but as a couple of people have allready stated if its too much at launch don't buy it and wait for the PS3 to come out because most likely microsoft will drop the price of the X360 in order to get attention away from the PS3, i would expect a $50 drop on the barebones console(so $250) and possibly even make the $400 dollar console $300 dollars like they stated in the beginning. I know i know i'm only speculating but seriously stop complaining. Do you think sony is going to release its PS3 cheaper than $300 dollars and with a harddrive?...I think the only console that will come with a better deal will be the revolution.
*I am not a fanboy of any console*

[The1 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Again, the issue is that you need an HD to play Halo 2. MS mislead gamers on this and it will hurt their sales this holiday season. MS should have sold the base model with HD for $299.00. Why does greed ruin MS? Heck with the $6.00 per Ipod that MS will get from Apple they can afford the loss on the XBOX.

[Chad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Do you guys forget what price the PS2 and Xbox launched at? I think this is a fair price for BOTH models. Early adopters will buy it and the rest of you will buy it when the price drops. I expect to see many long lines the day the 360 launches. (I will be in one!)

$399. Consider it spent.

[Jeffler @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

What will suck is how they convert to canadian.

The $299 is woth, in all irony, $360. Either it'll cost that much, or more likely, $399.

The $399 will go for $481, but that leads me to $500/$550.

With the $199 Revolution rumours, I'm happy to see that $199 is $240 so we might see a $299 Canadian launch, which will lead to me entering the store with a baseball bat to make sure I get one.

Finally, the PS3, which people are saying $500, is going for so much I I might as well get a Mac Mini instead. ($602 if anyones wondering)

[addi elding @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

gamespot has more info: http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/08/17/news_6131245.html

this is not just another rumor.

[Sargeant Slaughter @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I withdrew my down payment for the 360 and used it on the DS and a bunch of games last week. Looks like I made the right choice... I will wait to buy the 360 when they support HD-DVD.

[Hacp @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I wish they launched it at 360, included the HD, wireless controller, and remote but didn't include the headset.....

[Anthony @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Its all true http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4160076.stm

�279 and �209

[Cyric @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

First i want to give u congratulations for the excelent Blog.

Second, in my opinion PS3 will win the console war. I say this because the actual number of persons with a PS2 is greatly superior to the XBox. Here in Portugal, where i live, all my friends hava a PS2 none have a XBox. I never see one!! Because of that (and not for PS is better, and for what i read isnt, than XBox) i think the PS will win. This is not a case of fanboy, people if doesnt have complains with the actual System tend to be loyal.

Third, i think that the hard drive should be a default feature. Because it isnt devolopers will not use it and it will be wasted. The price is acceptable.

[someone @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

im going to wait a while if i want to buy an xbox 360, $400 u.s. is around $500 canadian, i think thats a bit high, $400 or $450 would sound more resonable, im going to wait a while.

[KorinFox @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Xbox 360 - $399 (399 Euros, 279 GBP)
�Xbox 360 console
�20GB detachable hard drive
�Wireless controller
�Wireless Xbox Live headset
�High-definition AV cables
�Ethernet cable
�Xbox 360 Media Remote Control (limited time)
�Detachable faceplate
�Xbox Live Silver membership

That's a helluva lot of extra stuff you get with the $399 version compared to the $299. If you think about this, the XBOX came out at $299 barebones but with a hard drive. But to get all those accessories it would have cost $120-$150. I'd say it's a good deal.

[charlie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Thats actually a pretty good deal for $399. Compared to the original xbox at $299. You get a hard drive, and for $100 extra you get a wireless controller instead of wired, a media remote that cost $15 or $20 with the original, a headset that cost $20 with the original, $30 high def cables, $20 ethernet cable, and some free access to xbox live. As long as you get to play games on the weekends for free, its a good deal.

[Huey2k2 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

As I recall, the original Xbox retailed at $300, came with one controller and the built in HD. The DVD kit at the time was ~$50, The live starter kit was ~$75, and so forth. To get all the extra's that are coming with the $400 360 package on the original would have easily pushed it over $400. Nuff Said.

[jorge @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

no biggie...I think people are overreacting. If you want a HD you can get a HD. The price is excellent. I hope I'll be able to get one before they sell out. 20GB is kinda small. I would rather get the base model and pay more for a larger HD later on for storing music and movies anyway.

[Jake @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I wonder if this report is wrong. It seems odd that even the more expensive version won't have a next-gen optical drive. I bet the $299 version will have a hard drive. I don't doubt it for a second, actually. That's one of their main selling points against the PS3.