European Xbox 360 price cuts officially official

Yeah, we had plenty of advance notice, but it looks like those European Xbox 360 price cuts are now the real deal. The 360 Arcade is now just €199.99 / £159.99, while the Premium drops €80 / £50 to €269.99 / £199.99 and the Elite comes down €80 / £40 to €369.99 / £259.99. That means the Arcade is now half the price of the 40GB PS3 in the EU -- not necessarily a great 1:1 comparison, but something tells us it's going to look awfully convincing on store shelves.

[Khattab @ Mar 10th 2008 11:58AM]

The WLAN unit is still at 70$ MSRP! 1/3 of the Arcade price!

[Orielsy @ Mar 10th 2008 12:22PM]

Dude you said it buddy.

I love MS but they need to get it together on this one. These damn periferals cost WAY too much.

I can buy a linksys "N" Router for that much money.

[orielsydiaz @ Mar 10th 2008 12:26PM]

Yeah ! what he said.

[Jake E. @ Mar 10th 2008 11:59AM]

Sweet. Now let's see that price cut here in the States.

[Nabil @ Mar 10th 2008 1:01PM]

actually, this is not much of a price cut.

When the Premium came out it was Euro 270.00 which in 2006 = 270.00 X 1.27 = $342.9
But after the dollar lost value, today's rate = 199.00 X 1.53 = $304.47

So, an 80 Euro price cut, is actually a $40 price cut, thanks to our wonderful economy.

So if anything expect a $40 price cut in Xbox prices.

[KyleK @ Mar 10th 2008 1:15PM]

I don't remember the Premium version ever being available for under 330€. I would have bought one if so.

[Nabil @ Mar 10th 2008 1:52PM]

oops messed that one up, I meant Arcade, not premium.

However, point is that the dollars drop in value made what should have been a $120 price cut, a mere $40 dollar price cut

[Jubei @ Mar 10th 2008 12:02PM]

It doesn't matter how cheap the XBOX will go. Your better off with a real gaming machine like the PS3.

[Chewedtoothpick @ Mar 10th 2008 12:06PM]

The PS3 is no more of a gaming machine than the 360 or Wii. It depends on where your priorities lie.

If you like to take it in the butt, then the PS3.

If you want a large variety of Games, the Xbox.

If you want better immersion and interactivity, the Wii.

[Chewedtoothpick @ Mar 10th 2008 12:08PM]

In case you can't tell, the PS3 comment was humor directed at Sony's apparent hatred for consumers.

PS3 May be better for something, but my point is that it all depends on perspective.

For me, I will not own the 360 or PS3, because they are useless for what I want.

[Raheem @ Mar 10th 2008 12:08PM]

Lmao, he said, "take it in the butt."

What? I'm not allowed to act like a child, now?

[Jubei @ Mar 10th 2008 12:15PM]

@Chewedtoothpick

Perhaps posting your enthusiastic needs to suggest shoving something up someone's butt on the internet is probably not a wise decision.

[Chewedtoothpick @ Mar 10th 2008 12:26PM]

@Jubei, who said:
"Perhaps posting your enthusiastic needs to suggest shoving something up someone's butt on the internet is probably not a wise decision."

Perhaps I was not being enthusiastic, but rather calculated.

Your statement that the PS3 is a real gaming machine where the XBox360 is not, is equally as offensive and improper as my comment was. The point being, that each and every person has their preference. What suits your needs (obviously the PS3) is not necessarily what will suit the needs of someone who needs play variety, or who needs interactivity. Sure the PS3 will eventually close the gap on the 360, but at what cost to the consumer?

[NHAnimator @ Mar 10th 2008 12:36PM]

Can't we all just get along and stop putting things up each others' butts?

[Prey521 @ Mar 10th 2008 1:38PM]

LMAO @ gaming machine and PS3 in the same sentence. You're a funny dude.

[Jimmy @ Mar 10th 2008 12:06PM]

The 360 has some great games. They are very Young American Male oriented but there are some great games. I am not sure how much cutting the price is going to help in Europe.

Further, I am surprised that the EU has not launched an investigation of the 360 due to all the reported failures.

[Homeboy @ Mar 10th 2008 12:06PM]

Very nice price cut. At €199 the Arcade is a very tempting purchase and I predict it will be a big seller this holiday season. But still, the Arcade is for sissies and 6 years old spoiled kids. The Premium version is the one you really want, and when MS drops the price of it to €250 I might jump on it.

It still bugs me that WiFi is still an overpriced accessory. Lastly I wonder how many more 20GB drives Toshiba or who ever is selling them HDDs to MS, have left in their spare part container

[Raheem @ Mar 10th 2008 12:10PM]

Seriously, without a hard drive, £159 is still a brilliant price. £199 for the Premium just seems too good to be true. Couple this with the free Halo 3 or GoW or Bully that some stores are offering at the moment and you've got one shit hot seller, again.

[insertAlias @ Mar 10th 2008 12:21PM]

£159.99 = $322.528
€199.99 = $307.258
Xbox 360 Arcade in America = $279.99

I'm really sorry. You guys seem to get the shaft a lot on things like this...that sucks.

[Saluki @ Mar 10th 2008 12:48PM]

Uhh, things are more expensive there, but don't forget that Europeans aren't converting USDs to buy these.

[Sean @ Mar 10th 2008 12:52PM]

Does that price include the VAT tax. Or is VAT added on top of that price?

Unknowing American postings... ;-0

[whatphone @ Mar 10th 2008 12:59PM]

@sean

it includes the VAT. prices over here always include VAT/TAX

[Homeboy @ Mar 10th 2008 1:02PM]

insertAlias: I'm sorry but you and a few other people here don't seem to know squat about economy and what's happening outside your nation. Our valuable currency named the Euro is doing perfectly fine here while the Dollar has during the latest 7 years dropped 35-40% against all other currencies on this planet. Some of you American's don't seem to be aware of it and are under the illusion that your monopoly money is as powerful as it was during the 90.

Once and for all, EU prices aren't higher it's the dollar which is weak.

[Raheem @ Mar 10th 2008 1:24PM]

insertAlias; read about VAT, then see our lovely pound vs the dollar.

[insertAlias @ Mar 10th 2008 1:33PM]

I do understand that both of the currencies I have listed are stronger than the dollar. In the case of the pound, much stronger. I'm not suggesting that our currency is better. Also, I already know about VAT tax.

I'm not saying that you're getting screwed in your overall economy. In this instance, and in several other instances I've seen posted on Engadget, if you WERE to convert currency and buy one here, you'd get a better deal. Once again, not a statement on the general economy, just that on some tech items like game consoles, you guys over there pay more than we do over here.

[agroupofletters @ Mar 10th 2008 2:20PM]

However, it would be very cheap for a European to purchase a 360 in the states, as it would only cost 182 euros

[Raheem @ Mar 10th 2008 2:26PM]

But when you convert it backwards, NOW, it's £20 more, which is like an hours work.

[Homeboy @ Mar 10th 2008 2:32PM]

insertAlias: Geez you still don't get it. We Europeans paying "more" is nothing but a simplistic illusion of how international economics work. 7 years ago the Euro and Dollar were worth equally as much. The Dollar dropped in value, the Euro remained strong and manufacturer's pricing strategies remained. Microsoft, Sony and Apple aren't charging you Americans less or us Europeans more They stick to their pricing strategies no matter how much currencies fluctuate. Monetary and economics are more complicated than just exchange rates, there is inflation and other factors involved.

[Mario @ Mar 10th 2008 2:54PM]

the price of it is actually the same. The place they get shafted, is the 17.5% VAT they pay.

[Jakob @ Mar 10th 2008 12:26PM]

Fantastic;

Premium drops €80 / £50
Elite comes down €80 / £40

But always good with some competion, I think we soon will see a $299, £199, €249, DKK1.999, SEK2.599, do you want more? :)

[FTY @ Mar 10th 2008 12:29PM]

Well that photo up there is in Dutch and Dutch don't use £ but €, so the price is €199,95. I'm getting confused here.

[Jakob @ Mar 10th 2008 12:33PM]

My Dutch isn't great at all, but that page mentions the Arcade, which is €199.

[Jakob @ Mar 10th 2008 12:33PM]

My Dutch isn't great at all, but that page mentions the Arcade, which is €199.

[Jakob @ Mar 10th 2008 12:30PM]

If you add 25% VAT to US prices:

$280x1,25=$350

Wupti in theory we get it cheaper than you!

[PG @ Mar 10th 2008 12:41PM]

People in the US do not pay VAT. So it's still cheaper to buy in the US. Most US states charge sales tax which is around 8%.

[Jakob @ Mar 10th 2008 1:14PM]

I know, but that explains the higher prices in Europe? I actually don't think we get ripped by Microsoft, like we do with Apple and especially Sony.

[PG @ Mar 10th 2008 1:42PM]

Europe has too many regulations on industries, look at how they are going after Microsoft on anti-trust trials because of Windows and fining them over a billion dollars. That fine is passed onto the customers in Europe. Companies have more regulations and laws they have to follow in Europe so it just makes more sense to charge higher for products to account for that. If you want quality products, long warranties then you have to pay for it - thus the higher prices.

[Josh @ Mar 10th 2008 12:39PM]

ANOTHER post about the xbox 360? It seems like every third post on Engadget is about Microsoft or the xbox..... I mean, jeeze we know how much you all love Bill Gates but this is way to much, why don't you just change the name of this blog to Engadget-Soft. I swear I'm going to stop reading.

;)

[RonV @ Mar 10th 2008 1:01PM]

I thought every other post was about Apple?

[Eli 05 @ Mar 10th 2008 1:05PM]

I don't care if you stop reading or not but please promise to stop commenting. I for one appreciate any game related posts since Joystiq and xbox360fanboy are blocked at work.

[Dave @ Mar 10th 2008 12:59PM]

Not related but can someone tell me why the PS3 controls do not have diagonals on the dpad? Seems like common sense but am I missing something?

[Dom @ Mar 10th 2008 1:35PM]

Yes you are. You hit the diagonals by leaning on two directions, e.g. top left would be leaning on Up and Left. The pad has been designed in such a way that it is very easy to do, just like Nintendo's design. Having the pad cover the diagonals like the 360's is rather pointless - in fact most will agree the 360's d-pad is the worst of the current consoles.

[Dani @ Mar 10th 2008 2:15PM]

I find the 360 controller to be the best of all three so ner :p

[benny boy @ Mar 10th 2008 5:18PM]

He was only talking about the D-Pad...

[sam @ Mar 10th 2008 1:55PM]

Amazon UK, GAME and play.com havent dropped their prices, still £250 for premium and £190 for arcade instead of £200 and £160.

is there a date for UK price drops?

[Robotochan @ Mar 10th 2008 2:49PM]

they need to get rid of stock they've already bought for the higher wholesale price before they can sell for the lower rrp

[Phil @ Mar 10th 2008 3:08PM]

I actually did'nt think this would happen until GTA IV....

I guess that just leaves the PS3 to bring in a price-drop with GTA IV then.....

[Tranando @ Mar 10th 2008 4:00PM]

Very foolish... All this will do, is flood more HDD-less arcade units out on the market, and can't play Xbox games to their full advantage (Burnout Paradise, GTA IV for example), and will further crippled HDD enabed Elites and Premiums.

[Felipe Jesus @ Mar 10th 2008 8:18PM]

Hope US pricecuts are ahead.