Xbox 360 Pro hits $299 in Target stores

We're not exactly sure what kind of behind-the-scenes relationship Target has with Microsoft, but this marks the third time by our count in which it has revealed something pretty important about the Xbox 360 before Redmond told anyone else (on the record, that is). Whatever the case, the Xbox 360 Pro is being let go at Target's brick-and-mortar locations (read: not online, so you'll actually have to slip some shorts on and leave the basement) for $299.99. Guess that confirms the US price drop, huh?

[Thanks, Ryan]

[giantenemycrab @ Jul 11th 2008 5:29PM]

I'm still not convinced.

[Richie @ Jul 12th 2008 4:06AM]

LOL +1

[bohsocks @ Jul 11th 2008 5:53PM]

Wow that's pretty cheap....

"Add to Club Wedd?" Is that like a wedding registry service? Hmm, interesting so a bride could get a wedding ring and a RRoD in the same day? Awesome!

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 11th 2008 5:54PM]

And does the ESRB really rate console hardware?

[bohsocks @ Jul 11th 2008 6:00PM]

How is that console even on without any wires coming out the back of it?

[Verified Insanity @ Jul 11th 2008 6:11PM]

There's no chance this is related to the fact that Microsoft has a conference at E3 coming up in a few days.

No chance.

[giantenemycrab @ Jul 11th 2008 6:13PM]

Why is Verified Insanity's comment the only one even remotely relevant of a response to mine?

[Verified Insanity @ Jul 11th 2008 6:25PM]

Because I actually know what I'm talking about.

And I'm awesome. =P

[jdang @ Jul 11th 2008 6:40PM]

Hmm, don't have one yet ...but this is tempting.

But stop! Wait until Sunday, I believe they are offering a $25 gift card. This will offset taxes vs. buying on Amazon etc.

[Ghen @ Jul 11th 2008 9:23PM]

because everyone else is either a giant douche or a turd sandwich

[5hifty @ Jul 12th 2008 1:04AM]

Hey guys, I just wanted to let you know that all Pro Xbox 360 systems are Officially $299.99 at Fry's Electronics by Saturday July 12 (tomorrow). I can tell you this for a fact because I personally work there and just lowered their prices. I was surprised as hell to see them lowered before any official announcement, and even before E3. So if you guys are looking for an Xbox 360 at $299.99 right now. Head to Fry's Electronics (Though we only have literally around 32 stores in the US). Don't believe me? Call the store tomorrow, and ask for the software department. You'll get your answer soon enough if we decide to pick up.

Peace,

[HAI 2 U @ Jul 11th 2008 5:30PM]

hmm ... still not convinced I need a dedicated porn machine ...

[Chris @ Jul 11th 2008 5:33PM]

PLEASE SAY THE ARCADES GETTING A CUT TOO ... if so i'll pick one up as an extender for my bedroom... and for some BFBC in my birthday suit

[Ash Leavenworth @ Jul 11th 2008 7:10PM]

Same here man.
But if they dont cut it soon, then im betting they will just discontinue the arcade line.

:(

[grull27 @ Jul 11th 2008 5:34PM]

Already have a 360 Elite. :D

[Reader @ Jul 11th 2008 6:40PM]

Congrats. I already have a tank full of gas so if prices go down it doesn't matter for anyone else...

[Sith Lord 24 @ Jul 11th 2008 5:50PM]

i also have a elite but this is not a bad deal for the best gaming system on the planet

[quick @ Jul 11th 2008 5:51PM]

It's actually not even on sale yet, the local store says its still ringing up at $349.99 and even if I bring a print out of the website it doesn't matter.

Called Target corporate customer service, and was told they made a mistake and put up the $299.99 price too early and that its not on sale until Sunday actually. :(

[Ghen @ Jul 11th 2008 9:24PM]

Thanks for checking it out at least, that gives you some extra nerd cred.

[Flashpoint @ Jul 12th 2008 12:39AM]

I got Circuit City's flier and it claims there is a $50 price break. The ad begins on Sunday too.


The big question is, what will happen to the PS3. SONY dicked around too long bringing the PS3 to market and to tell the truth, there is NO GAME on PS3 that captures my attention. Despite the face this thing was suppossed to be the ultimate next generation system...Xbox360 has proven that it takes more than just a high tech DVD player to be a true gaming system. You gotta have a huge selection of 1st party software.

SONY got that right with the PS1, faultered in the beggining with the PS2 and completely botched it al on the PS3.

What are the top games right now?

MGS4?
GTA4?
Battlefield Bad Company
Call of Duty 4.

Besides MGS4, most PS3 games are ports from the 360. What's worse is that the PS3 hasn't been repackaged as a SKU containing the DUAL SHOCK 3 except for the MGS4 editions which are sold out or going for so much over the MSRP on EBAY that they are untouchable.


My recommendations to SONY.

Decide what you're gonna do.
Repackage the system and put the DS3 in it pronto.
Price drop to $300



And as for Microsoft..its about goddamned time the 360 had a built in WiFi don't you think?

[Anthony @ Jul 11th 2008 5:56PM]

"so you'll actually have to slip some shorts on and leave the basement"

Nice. But do you think my mom will let me borrow the car?

[Dr. Evil @ Jul 12th 2008 12:12AM]

No, but you can borrow her shorts.

[Travis @ Jul 11th 2008 5:58PM]

I want a 360, but just to take it apart and tinker with it, even a broken one

[Travis @ Jul 11th 2008 6:00PM]

i'd take a broken one to tinker with

[kal326 @ Jul 11th 2008 6:00PM]

There is also a second item listed at B4J-00001 that is not in stock and also does not have any details. Things could get rather interesting in the next few days.

http://www.target.com/gp/search/601-9032188-3279328?ie=UTF8&search-alias=target&index=target&field-browse=1038576&ref=sr%5Fbx%5F1%5F1&viewID=drill-down&store=&field-keywords=microsoft%20gaming%20%20B4J-00001&page=1

[Chuck @ Jul 11th 2008 7:59PM]

Google tells all...
Xbox 360 Premium System - B4J00001

Some links date back to 2005, no story here.

Move along...

[pablo.a_214 @ Jul 11th 2008 6:25PM]

I got my ps3 for $400 and there was a special at walmart that if you bought it you got a $100 gift card i got it on the first of june haha like ima buy that piece of shit xbox

[Michael @ Jul 11th 2008 6:32PM]

so i herd u liek trolling

[maff @ Jul 11th 2008 6:33PM]

it was really important that everyone knew you bought it on 1st June?

jeez!

punctuation?

[Richard @ Jul 11th 2008 7:14PM]

There were so many promotion for buying PS3 like the sony card 100 dollar credit, the warmat 100 dollar gift card. 360 i had not heard any promotion from them, except added 2 games but is so short length of period, unless you really like 360 games, there's no good reason to get to their mess, extreme high failure rate and no blu-ray, if u can afford tv for 360, you should n't has to spend 300+ for another blu-ray player, worst about 360 is their way they make money of you elsewhere, like there's no wifi, you has to pay close to 100 for their own kind of wifi adapter, u can't use other brand cause 360 don't suppport, what is funny 360 only has 1 usb hub. Basically all the accesories u gonna pay official and full price, since no third party support, second online cost you money, i prefer you buy the card not use credit card, cause credit card gonna auto renew, not always good idea, since you had to for the full 1 year in front. The hard drive space is a joke 20gb lol? even tumb drive usb has more space than this day.

[Rogue_Genius @ Jul 11th 2008 7:06PM]

I'm a fan of the PS3 and your sense of superiority is bothersome even to me.

[Biomech @ Jul 11th 2008 7:08PM]

Honestly, I'm so tired of this. I have a PS3 and I got it for under $400 bucks, a pretty good deal at the time. But if I was in the market for an Xbox (im not at the moment, but it's not because "M$ sux" or whatever) this certainly would be a great deal and I wouldn't hesitate to buy it.

Stop being such a fanboy and realize that the Xbox and the PS3 are two great consoles.

[Oliver @ Jul 11th 2008 6:27PM]

well, what do ya think... target has a certain affinity for red rings... not necessarily of death, but just... beautiful, beautiful red rings :)

[Rogue_Genius @ Jul 11th 2008 7:04PM]

Now that was a nice one-liner! Bravo :)

[ugh @ Jul 11th 2008 7:04PM]

I have two xboxs, one from the day one launch that's used every night to play avis to my TV and the other is 18 months old at least and I have played it non stop since i got it
Never had a RROD on EITHER one

xbox has the best games and i don't watch damn DVDs much less HD DVD. I can watch HD on my DISH network and that's plenty

No gears, no halo, nuff said

[phinnvr6 @ Jul 11th 2008 8:54PM]

Oh okay, no Warhawk, no Metal Gear Solid 4, no Grand Turismo 5, no SOCOM, no Final Fantasy XIII, no Blu-ray movies nuff said. PS3 wins.

[rich @ Jul 11th 2008 8:14PM]

This has been on the news a few times within the couple days I don't think Microsoft has any special relationship with Target maybe the editors at Engadget should step away from the computer and turn on the news once in a while.

[Khattab @ Jul 11th 2008 9:01PM]

@MS: Lower the accessory prices! Damn, can't be that difficult to sell e.g. a WLAN unit for lets say 20-30 bucks.

[Paulmichael @ Jul 11th 2008 9:05PM]

Tempting, but that 20 GB of "space" is a deal breaker. Gotta get some more space if I'm to own a 360.

[shimmy shimmy yah @ Jul 11th 2008 10:51PM]

its funny because they say that it isnt available online, yet the picture shows it for sale online, LOL

[David M @ Jul 11th 2008 11:34PM]

Now I don't know whether to buy the xbox from Target when it's $299 and $25 gift card or to wait for the "new" xbox 60gb or hope that the PS3 is somehow reduced. Can't decide b/w PS3 and xbox.

I shoulda bought the PS3 when it included a $100 gift card but I don't like the fact that the 40gb doesn't include PS2 backwards compatibility.

[Wes @ Jul 12th 2008 4:03AM]

I vote xbox 360. Great games. Buy a gaming machine for the games, not the extras.

People buy cars because they need to get from place to place. It would be silly to buy a car just to use it as a super expensive radio or worse a horribly environmentally unfriendly air conditioner for your garage. People do so with the PS3 though. Some buy it as a cheap blu-ray player. Some as a media extender or cause it has linux and you can surf the web on your tv with it incluidng mouse/keyboard support.

[phinnvr6 @ Jul 12th 2008 1:27PM]

Get a PS3. It has all the best cross platform games, all the best exclusives (Warhawk, GT5, MGS4, SOCOM, FF-XIII, etc) , does tons of entertainment stuff (Blu-ray movies, DVD upscaling, web browser, divx/avi streaming, etc), runs quieter and consumes less power, online gaming is FREE, oh... and will never RROD.

[nojak @ Jul 12th 2008 6:57AM]

It's a damn price drop people. If you want one, now's a good time to buy, if not, don't.

[Overseeker79 @ Jul 12th 2008 8:10AM]

Does this mean that it's a "PRO" Red Ring of Death when the junk dies, too ? :P

[Covarr @ Jul 12th 2008 9:05AM]

I wish the elite was also going down. I'm not gonna get a pro.

[-d- @ Jul 12th 2008 11:27AM]

preface -- i am making no apologies for M$ regarding their ridiculous accessory prices...

that said, while i think we'd all like as many gb's as possible, i don't think the elite is necessary. i order to get the most out of the 360 (media-wise) i think streaming content is a better way to go about it. with a multiple options for windows user and even great options for mac users (i've really liked connect360) i don't have a huge need -- even though i want -- a bigger hard drive.

now if you want to download tons of original xbox stories...well, i guess you're buying an elite =)