Xbox 360 Pro for $299 all but confirmed

We got this handy little Xbox 360 Pro cheat sheet sent to us by a GameStop manager, who also forwarded it to our BFF's at Joystiq, which pretty much confirms those widely-spread suspicions of a 360 price drop. It looks to be the very real deal, and is good news for the Xbox fanboy looking to at last populate every room in his house with the charming white box, now selling at that magical $299.99 pricepoint, with refurb'd 360s dipping to $279. Obviously it's not happening until Sunday the 13th, but that should give you the requisite time to scrape together those pennies. Unfortunately, it looks like the $279 price on the Arcade isn't budging, but don't stop believing. More promo material after the break.

[Matt Keller @ Jul 9th 2008 1:06PM]

Who in their right mind would buy an Arcade system when the Pro is just $20 more?

[xcrunk @ Jul 9th 2008 2:06PM]

For another $100, I can get a Bluray player and not have to worry about RROD.

[Dale @ Jul 9th 2008 2:17PM]

You just have to worry about firmware updates bricking your machine and having to install games because the Blu Ray drive isn't up to snuff when it comes to streaming data.

[LiqwidZero @ Jul 9th 2008 2:18PM]

And for less that $100, you get amazing games.

[xcrunk @ Jul 9th 2008 3:50PM]

At $299, for what you get, it's still a rip.

With a 2005 design, same build, cheaper parts...this thing should be at $199 already.

[Dozer @ Jul 11th 2008 8:20PM]

$299 at target also, but next week it will be going for $275!

[Tim @ Jul 9th 2008 1:07PM]

if the arcade stay at $280 it will not sale. it will be become a dust collector

[soul7963 @ Jul 9th 2008 1:19PM]

The fact that it doesn't have a mast won't help either!!

[natels @ Jul 9th 2008 1:26PM]

soul.. l o l. It took me a second, but was worth it.

[Terc @ Jul 9th 2008 1:34PM]

The fact that "sale" and "sail" are two entirely different words entertains me. Good try at criticizing someone's poor English skills though...

[Casao @ Jul 9th 2008 3:17PM]

The point is, it should be Sell, not sale. A sale is a noun, to sell is a verb.

[tyler @ Jul 9th 2008 3:13PM]

@ Terc:

The fact that you are anal entertains me. Good try at criticizing someone's effective comedic skills though...

[Eric @ Jul 9th 2008 3:17PM]

....and the fact that both "sale" and "sail" would be incorrect to use in the user's post. It should say "if the arcade stay at $280 it will not SELL"

[alo8a @ Jul 9th 2008 5:40PM]

@Eric... then it shoud be "stays" not "stay"

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 9th 2008 6:33PM]

Maybe he's just speaking with his blaccent?

[Mitch @ Jul 9th 2008 7:11PM]

and sail is an adjective, now that we have our english down.....

[Decoy @ Jul 9th 2008 8:44PM]

Someone is WRONG on the internet!

[SoulinEther @ Jul 10th 2008 5:03AM]

Oh God, it's like a pun within a pun! Too good.

[tyler @ Jul 9th 2008 1:07PM]

Just glad to see something else going on this weekend other than the release of a certain mobile device..

[Jonathan-DBOSS @ Jul 9th 2008 1:09PM]

I want my BFF to give me a 360.

[Seanross @ Jul 9th 2008 1:09PM]

Its more than likely gonna drop to $250 soon then. If they don't they're out their minds.

I'm not sure if I wished I would've waited for the drop. I got my Pro system back in November. Thats a extra game I could've bought if I waited.

[BMErdin @ Jul 9th 2008 1:52PM]

Yeah, but weigh that 1 extra game against 7 months of playing. I'd say the 7 months win.

[BigD145 @ Jul 9th 2008 2:21PM]

I'd hold out for a version that didn't RRoD.

[Seanross @ Jul 13th 2008 4:38AM]

Mine has never given any problems, Although it is properly ventilated, unlike the stories I've heard like people having their systems under a blanket... no not the towel trick, a blanket

[Pumapayam @ Jul 9th 2008 1:10PM]

People, it's a *clearance sale price drop*, not a permanent price drop.

20 GB units are being phaseed out (like last years 60 GB PS3)

Expect that rumored 60 GB Xbox 360 version to maintain that $279/$349/$449 tier system they currently have.

If it was a real price drop, all 3 versions would drop in price about $50.

[link12245 @ Jul 9th 2008 10:54PM]

It's a perm price drop. we're doing the same thing at radioshack. it's all over.

[Devang Thaker @ Jul 11th 2008 6:27AM]

idk last time microsoft had a price drop it happened the same way and i guess it would be good for 60gb premium console with price tag of 300 and the elite drops to 400 would make 360 really appealing and Playstation would drop in sales. Anybody have info on any of the non bricking updates rumored for xbox dashboard?

[Chad @ Jul 9th 2008 1:14PM]

I just bought an XBox 360 Elite 2 weeks ago. Will the price be dropping for the Elite as well?

[cub3 @ Jul 9th 2008 1:17PM]

Wow seems like a new xbox must be on its way.

[totoro @ Jul 9th 2008 1:23PM]

If Arcade and Elite aren't changing, then yeah, its a clearance sale.

The 60G comes in at the $349 price, and stability is restored to the marketplace :p

[natels @ Jul 9th 2008 1:30PM]

If I were to buy one after seeing this price drop.. I would go to Target and buy it today and go back on Sunday/Monday and get the 50$ back, this way you don't have to wait.

[kal326 @ Jul 9th 2008 2:40PM]

Or you can do like what my plan was and sell your 2yr old 360 that runs hotter and doesn't have HDMI a week ago before the trade in value dropped. Buy a brand new Falcon Pro which runs a lot cooler by the way and had HDMI support. Two weeks later go and get your $50 back from the price drop.

[Ethan @ Jul 9th 2008 1:33PM]

Pro doesn't really speak to the "casual" crowd they've been courting for so long. To them it mean professional, I suspect Microsoft want to go with the "really good at shooting people in the face" meaning.

[Evan @ Jul 9th 2008 1:56PM]

When has Microsoft been "courting" casual gamers? Do you mean the "Arcade" version that they never promote? Or, all *two* exclusive casual games they never advertise?

Microsoft completely failed at "courting" mainstream casual consumers. It takes more than a different hardware bundle, they need to start promoting games that don't involve "shooting people in the face". But that would piss off all the hardcore gamers! (Just look at the hatred from hardcore gamers towards the Wii.) Nintendo has shown that attracting casual gamers pisses off hardcore gamers, and Microsoft has shown that appeasing hardcore gamers scares off casual gamers! I think they are better off focusing on their own audiences.

[Mal F4cti0n @ Jul 11th 2008 10:35AM]

Who cares about the casual gamer. Yeah, they will buy your console but they do not buy games. Just ask Nintendo. The Wii has the lowest attach rate and their software, especially third-party, rarely sees a top 20.

All three companies are going to do fine, though.

Xbox for their Live aservice and large amounts of games.
PS3 for its shear power and Blu-ray player (plus it plays some games).
Wii for its gimmicky controller appeal to the casual gamer.


Personally, my xbox just got sent in for repairs, I have had it just under three years. I love Live and love the games. My Wii only gets played when there are people over (I am playing some games now b/c the xbox is in the shop but I don't really have fun playing with the controller). I am just waiting to pick up the PS3 for my christmas present this year.

[Akshat @ Jul 9th 2008 1:38PM]

Some ppl like to game (on a screen slightly larger than 3 inches)

[Maria - www.monografiaurgente.com @ Jul 9th 2008 1:55PM]

It means... Coming soon: a new XBOX!

[notYou @ Jul 9th 2008 3:19PM]

As someone who only casually watches the gaming market waiting for a current gen system to get into the truly affordable range, I'm surprised that it's still this high (and, from the comments, its the craptastic package).

Am I the only one who thought that - what, 2 years since launch? - that it would be down to $199 or less by now? Then I'd be thinking about jumping in.

Hmmm, I'll check back in a couple of years (probably about the time it's 720 time, and I'll be back in the same boat)

[dreamscape86 @ Jul 9th 2008 1:48PM]

Why is he low-ranked? I'm pretty sure he was joking, guys...

[andrew @ Jul 9th 2008 1:51PM]

Based on my sources in retail, the Arcade is dead, they're selling out of them right now with no new shipments coming in.

[sbrown @ Jul 9th 2008 1:53PM]

Do you reckon this price drop will occur just in the US or will we a see a price drop in other countries (i.e. the UK) at the same time?

Plus any ideas on when is the new 60gb 360 scheduled to arrive?

[maaaark @ Jul 9th 2008 2:57PM]

The UK has already had it's price cut. If you take away the 17.5% vat then the US/UK prices are petty much the same

[Jake @ Jul 10th 2008 6:10PM]

The UK and Europe already had it's price cut, and it did naff-all to stop the flood of people flocking to PS3...

Microsoft are indeed getting desperate, next thing you know they will be launching Wii-like controllers...

[Seth @ Jul 9th 2008 5:19PM]

Just in time! I was going to buy one this weekend anyway!

[theNONjay @ Jul 9th 2008 2:06PM]

coulda fooled me....

[Rogue_Genius @ Jul 9th 2008 2:07PM]

Maybe my sarcasm meter is broken, but I honestly wasn't sure if Stef was joking or not :-/

[GaryZ @ Jul 9th 2008 2:07PM]

From dealsea...http://www.dealsea.com/txt/targetxbox.jpg

[Rogue_Genius @ Jul 9th 2008 2:08PM]

I'm wondering too...

[Rogue_Genius @ Jul 9th 2008 2:11PM]

oh what the hell, Engadget! damn reply button going gonzo...

[Kirk @ Jul 9th 2008 2:09PM]

Buy it now at Circuit City. Then, on Sunday, take in an ad and get your $50 back, plus 10%, plus sales tax. You'll get a little over $55 back.