Xbox 360 price drops go global on Friday, it's official
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Aug 27th 2009 4:53AM
posted Aug 27th 2009 4:53AM
Update: According to the BBC, while the Xbox 360 Elite will drop £30 to £200 in the UK, the price of the entry level Xbox 360 Arcade will actually increase to £160 from £130. Ouch.
[Via Reuters]
What do you mean by price drops go 'global'? Is this just for the USA, or will the 360 come down in price in other countries too? Read link doesn't suggest so...
Here's mention of global http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE57Q17H20090827
Thomas
clearly, none of you guys have heard this 360 degree expression before today. It is SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAIL and is merely being quoted here, it's practically ancient (in internet terms) - it's almost a meme...
Meant to reply to mr.gamewizardguru...
Time to dump MSFT! Margin pressure is mounting!
I suspect not. In the UK the Elite is only £7 more than the lowered US price once you take VAT into account, so looks like the US price is coming down to match the rest of the world.
Pity, I want to replace my 20Gb 360 to get HDMI (for neater cabling purposes) and a colour more fitting with the rest of my components.
While not the most accurate representation...it is pretty neat to watch the console sales in real time....
http://nexgenwars.com/
54.2%
Too little too late. The PS3 will soon become the de facto system while the 360 maintains its 50%+ failure rate.
You know what they say: "It's called an Xbox 360, because when you see it, you turn 360 degrees and walk away."
Ahahahahaha, god I hope you're joking.
(check your maths)
So you turn in a full circle and walk straight into your entertainment center? I don't get it......
I'm afraid you just made yourself look like an idiot.
When you turn 360 degrees, you are back to facing the XBox 360, smartass. That's why it's called an XBox 360. You always end up looking at it.
Dude... you're such a tool. Did you FAIL Geometry?
it's a meme...
अपने आप को मूर्ख बनाया :P
GOD DAMN!!! COPYPASTA IS DELICIOUS!!!!
10/10 /bro.
360 is 4 years old and still lead by around 5 million consoles. By the time Sony is dead even in sales, I wouldn't be surprised if it was time for the next gen of consoles. You're gonna talk about "too little too late" 3 years after PS3 launch?
mr.gamewizardguru: +1
If you want it to at least make sense, what you should have said was: "It's called an Xbox 360 because when you see it, you turn 360 degrees and moonwalk away."
Fail ...
Wrong place, wrong meme.
Self-owned.
It's called an Atari 2600 because when you see it, you turn 2600 degrees, get really dizzy, and vomit.
and this is breaking because.......
It's now official.
it's not.
Sounds official to me.
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/08/interview-microsoft-on-300-elite-hdmi-cables-hard-drives.ars
I'm providing the link to the press release in this reply since people can't seem to find the blue READ link in the article above.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/aug09/08-27RedTagPR.mspx?rss_fdn=Press%20Releases
It's 'breaking' because it's an Xbox 360.
@Jval, Driveshaft and Lando
Damn you guys beat me to it!
Except in the UK where the Elite repalces the pro and the arcade has now gone UP in price!
Nice one - let's raise te price durign a recession while the competition lower theirs.
Although here the PS£ Slim is still £50 - around $80 - more than the Elite.
Yep Europe is simply crazy. The slim PS3 is actually more expensive than the old PS3 in Denmark. 2699 kr. (£319) for PS3 slim and 2300 kr. (£272) for the original. And that was even before the Slim was official.
So much for these pricedrops..
Well, if I had to buy a console today then it would be the PS3. I believe that I would be getting more for my money and I do not want to reward Microsoft for the way that they have developed the 360.
I should probably note that I have very limited interest in gaming so I'm not a good target for either model, plus I do no live in the US and therefore do not get access to services like Netflix.
We didn't buy our Playstation 3 for it's ability to play games... the fact that it has some pretty amazing titles available for it is an area we're only now exploring, and I must say enjoying.
We bought ours as a media centre first and foremost. The Blu-Ray/Upscaling DVD/DivX/XVid/USB/DLNA streaming and user upgradeable HDD made it a no-brainer attached to the rest of our home theatre gear... even at the price it was then!
It really is a very accomplished bit of kit, despite the 'popular opinion' of Westerners who've seen no more than the price tag to then be judging it otherwise.
To be honest, I've been looking to buy an Apple TV for the last year or so but have never "pulled the trigger" because the price is so high. Now that the PS3 is the same price as a basic Apple TV and provides much more, the PS3 definitely looks like a more attractive proposition for use as a media centre, particularly if we end up moving back to the UK soon.
The 360 really shines as a media center also. Except for the Blu-Ray it does it all.
with MCE you can extend the 360 into home automation systems - using it to turn on and off lights, alert you to events, look at the front door camera, etc.
the 360 can also tune into Live ATSC television through WMC, and act as a networked DVR/TiVO device.
plus it does the whole Upscaling DVD/DivX/XVid/USB/DLNA streaming thing.
and it has Netflix.
I bought an XBox 360 and don't game much. I spent $20 total for Chessmaster and Magic the Gathering. Mostly I use it as a media center for DVDs, Netflix, downloaded videos, and as an extender for Windows Media Center.
I know people tend to get their knickers in a twist over this but I will never buy a 360 due to the shameful way that Microsoft brought this product to market. It was a rush job and not fit for purpose for a considerable period of time. I do not care that Microsoft agreed to provide a long warranty and repair failed units - they never should have been in that position in the first place, particularly since Microsoft knew about the quality issues in advance of the launch. It's a shame since otherwise it looks reasonable. I just find the whole episode unethical and due to this I will not give Microsoft my money for this generation.
@Kelmon:
Interesting as that is almost the same line of reasoning preventing me brom buying a PS3, Bravia, etc.
Sony really went downhill as a company when they made the transition from an electronics company to a media company. The conflicting interests have lead Sony to do some very unforgivable things.
From their use of DRM to suing their own customers to pushing restrictive proprietary formats to blaming the internet for all their trouble. It reached the tipping point for me when they released the rootkit infested CD's that destroyed other people's private property and they actually tried to defend the practice.
No, I don't trust Sony.
I think both systems are great, but when you compare the current xbox360 and the slim ps3, the slim ps3 wins hands down. If Microsoft really wants to compete, they need to add wireless and a larger hard drive while still maintaining a 300 price tag. If the prices and console hardware stays as they are currently, it'll look like Sony will win the holiday season.
I always struggle to validate any direct comparison in sales between the two units when they didn't even launch in the same fiscal year, yet are regarded as being of the same generation. Adding the Wii into this 'generation' argument just makes it even more bizarre when they are all so different in their inherent capabilities and years.
i'm an xbox fan, but i'd have to agree. i felt that if MS lowered the Arcade to $150 and the Elite to $250 (and included an HDMI cable; dropping component isn't a big deal if they did), they could successfully stop this push from Sony. It would be pretty close to the last nail in the coffin for the PS3.
but MS dropped the ball. if i were an average consumer who did not own a 360 or PS3, i would probably pick the PS3. personally, though, i already have blu-ray in my laptop, and i love the Xbox exclusives too much, so i would get an xbox.
bottom line: pick what you want. they're both fine systems.
if you're worried about 360 failure, all Arcades have the newest Jasper board, as should the new Elites. while not perfect (PS3 failure rate isn't perfect either), the Jasper are definitely more reliable than the previous two revisions.
Are those two Xbox controllers humping each other?
maybe, but where is that ad from walmart? i might get a second 360 for school if they're giving away free controllers....
ATTENTION ENGADGET TEAM!
Will you guys please revamp the comment system? Otherwise it's worthy of being in the top 5 worst apple products :-P
+1
at least we got "highest ranked" back. and that only took them what, like six months or so? at that rate, it's only three (or ten) short years until we get a new comment system!
i don't think it's all Engadget's fault, though. my guess is that all the blogs in Weblogs have to built their comment system on something AOL gives them, which is inherently flawed. that may be why the comment system in Joystiq has similar problems.
It not just engadget, its joystiq, autoblog, TUAW, Asylum, Switched, etc. They are all built on the same framework so AOL would have to revamp all of them and all would experience downtime.
In other words, i dont think AOL is going to spend the money to fix the comment system anytime soon
"will work with every Xbox 360 sold today and tomorrow"
Xbox made 2 months ago.. probably won't be working?
I would like to point out that I watch Netflix on my PS3 via PlayOn just fine. So, I guess for me it was Blu-ray *and* Netflix.
*and* wifi *and* blutooth *and* more powerful hardware *and* a lower price for all of that
;)
*and* fewer good games!
*and* what about bluray sent through netflix
I would like to point out that you watch Netflix on your PS3 with PlayOn in standard definition and stereo sound. While I don't own a 360 (yet), I am pretty sure that it gets the full surround high(er) definition treatment. I use PlayOn also, and it rocks. I'm not knocking it. Just pointing out that it is limited to the streaming capabilities of the host PC, and Netflix has restricted that to standard def stereo up to this point.
i was really thinking if i should go with $299 new PS3 or this elite
finally found a cheaper 360 for $189, i'm not sure if it even comes with a hard disk i dont care
http://dealbit.com/p/VideoGames/14112941/B0029MAXS6/Microsoft-XGX-00055-Xbox-360
"i'm not sure if it even comes with a hard disk i dont care"
You will.
You know before today i was considering buying the slim, but it would only be for the blue-ray, but now with the upcoming release of the Zune HD, i think that 360 is the way to go if one wants to anjoy it to the fullest. You know what? My mind is made up, if you can afford both, get both, but if you can only get one, i think 360 is the way to go.
They need to have a model with a hard drive at a lower price point. The Arcade is too limited and ironically can't play Xbox Live Arcade games because of a lack of storage. Keeping the hard drive-equipped price the same as PS3 is going to hurt sales for no other reason than the Blu-Ray player included with PS3.
I just got the PS3 slim and have been really enjoying it. I also have a Wii that my son (3) and I have been playing since almost launch.
The original PS3 kept me away because of the unit size and cost, both of which are fixed in the slim. The new Batman is great and I have downloaded quite a few fun demos from the PS store. He has also been enjoying watching the PS3 games.
I have played a few games on the 360, but everyone I know that has one just mainly uses it for HALO, which I don't like (that's right...I don't like HALO...don't shoot me, please).
What kept me away from the 360 were RROD fears and the fact that the wireless adapter is ~$80. If the Wii can include wireless....c'mon. I'm also not a big fan of the controller.
Truly, though, after having used all the systems, there's a place for each of them. They all have their pluses and minuses. PS3 vs 360 arguments are even dumber than the Mac vs Windows. Just as I bet most Mac haters have never used one (I have both, fyi), I'm betting most PS3 haters have never used one (and vice versa, for both points).
Find out which games you want to play,how much all the accessories are going to cost on top of system price, and get the one you want.
I've got to go with the Play Station for a number of reasons.:
1. Some friends have both systems and I can't discern any difference in the picture quality (although they say they do).
2. Got me a ROKU box for NetFlix and Amazon, and they have a lot more options rolling out soon.
3. Free Blu-Ray player with every purchase.
So the PS3 and the 360 are essentially the same price now if you want to play online... with the 360 being much more if you plan to play for more than 13 months online. Yeah, no thanks Microsoft.
You are talking about the $250 Pro model, which is going to be gone soon. Then they will be the same price at the store, then the xbox needs Live Gold and perhaps a wireless adapter. The PS3 throws in a Blu-Ray player for free.
Microsoft needs to fix this.
You know I may get another 360 now. I had bought 1 sys and it rrod 4x so I sold the last one in 07. I now fix 360s and mod em so I figuer I will do massive case and cooling mods if I do decide to go back in with the sharks. Now to another point. I love nintendo and all but after all these price cuts for sony and ms is the wii now long overdue for a price drop? At this point I feel the wii needs to be sold for 149.95 to still compete. I mean a 249.95 it is a no brainer that many who wanted a wii due to the price will now look more at the ps3 and 360 due to the fact are now in the same price margin. Come on Nintendo get on the ball and lower the price. Have you not profited enough to lower it to the below 200 mark that was initially promised? 149.99 nuff said.
Sorry to all but i needed to make that point.
So netflix would technically be an investment in the future of streaming, whereas blu-ray just causes you to have to drop $25 bucks on a movie that really, isn't that much better quality...... hmmmm
LOL!
Fail...
lol, read above...
The blu-ray player isn't going to convince people who've been waiting to buy a system to get the ps3. It's pretty much a dead format before it has time to get off the ground.
sooooo, i'd give the netflix capability the win since there are over 10 million people who that could help, whereas only the extreme tech driven people (that probably already own a blu-ray player) will care about the blu-ray drive.
the only thing that's going to sell the ps3 ahead of the xbox is if they start competing on the content front, and making that content for the masses, not the geek sitting at home with every system next to him already.
The thing is that the Microsoft LIVE & Marketplace services for XBOB 360 are not available in all countries where this product is sold so its useless in some places even if the price drops !
Anyway i doubt that the price will drop everywhere...
lol, I actually prefer the name XBOB :D
The 360 is at end of life. If you don't want to wait 3 years+ for the next generation of consoles buy a PS3. At least it'll serve you for another 5 years.
yea, 5 more years of developers hating to build and port games to the ps3
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/06/ghostbusters-ps3-xbox.gif
yea, 5 more years of developers hating to build and port games to the ps3, so they come out like this....
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/06/ghostbusters-ps3-xbox.gif
@ Tyler
Actually, the 360 is what is holding back the PS3. Developers have been complaining that they've reached the limits of pushing the 360, and don't have the resources (time & money) to build the same game from the ground up for the PS3 to take advantage of the system capabilities. Thus, we end up with crappy XBOX 360 ports to the PS3. Heck, when developers originally make a game for the PS3 and then try to port it over to the XBOX 360, they have to trim down the game to make it work, or even get it to fit onto just one disc!
The PS3 will thrive once the XBOX 360 is no longer choking it.
I'm waiting for Microsoft to come out with their next gen console. The 360 doesn't have another 3 years in it. Besides, I'd rather not gamble with RRoD. It says something that, after all these years, Microsoft hasn't taken the time to fix their "design flaw", as they call it.
Tyler, they just patched the game to fix the rez and two trophies that weren't working. I'm pretty sure the xbox hasn't gotten the achievement fix. Maybe you just shut up with the fanboi.
I will take the 360 Pro for $250.
Look a it this way to can now get a PS3 and a Xbox for the same price as the PS3 cost 3 years ago $600 sounds like a good deal to me.
Wow look a console article on Engadget and a ton of fanboy comments, wow who would ever think that would happen?
OK, two questions:
1. Can I play content (divx movies, mp3s) from my Windows XP computer that is on the same network? or does it have to be Vista only.
2. Do these new elites have any of the RROD issues? I know there are new models already that are less prone, is this one all the same hardware or is there a hardware change in this new elite? Is it better to have it vertical or horizontal to minimize problems?
1. Yes, pretty easily too
2. I assume it's better then it was a year or so ago, or since launch, but still a problem
Is there any word on a price drop for hard drives for the 360? My 20gig is just not enough now that there is so much emphasis on downloadable content.
i love my 360, but the lack of internal wireless and a either larger hard drive or upgradeable hard drive has always pissed me off
50% ring of death. That is all
A desperate move by Microsoft. If their player were superior and their titles compelling, the price drop would be unnecessary. But, because the Xbox has over 50%+ FAILURE rate and boring Halo ( rip off from Marathon ), they are forced to drop the prices and lose more revenue.
The price drop on the Mac books was a desperate move from Apple. If their laptops were superior and their software compelling, the price drop would be unnecessary.
The price drop on the PS3 was a desperate move from Sony. If their player was superior and their titles compelling, the price drop would be unnecessary.
If the price of the iPod Touch drops in September, it'll be a desperate move from Apple. If their player was superior and their apps compelling, the price drop would be unnecessary.
Sorry, guy. Price drops != desperation, when the cost of manufacturing goes down, a price drop just makes sense from a business standpoint since you'll have a massive boost in sales. Good job failing miserably in your attempt to bash Microsoft, though.
Wrong again. Apple profits, despite the price drop. Microsoft loses profits. The price drop is another increase in profit losses for Microsoft, the price loss leader. Until you understand the difference I would refrain from commenting. So again you fail.
Might wanna check out the profits for the XBox 360, before posting that, bud. Microsoft's profits overall went down year-over-year(although still far and away greater than Apple's) but they are certainly still making huge profits, and have made significant profits off the 360. Or maybe you don't understand the difference between a drop in the amount of money they make and actually losing money?
By the way, after Microsoft's huge drop you're referencing, they posted $4.71 billion in profit. Apple, after its huge gain went up to $1.61 billion.
Desperate play with numbers again. Xbox, and what little profits it made for the year are washed away with its 54% + failure rate. A conservative number at best. The expenditure for all these returns, replacement, repairs... will never be knows. The price drop will only enforce the continued losses for Xbox. Go ahead and spin that overall quarterly numbers, but the Xbox is still a failure as I have pointed out from the beginning of this topic.
I think alot of parents are gonna buy the Xbox 360 arcade's since its the cheapest next gen console.
For Some one who owns Both systems here is my view on the current Cuts as of right now PS3 i think the ps3 is the better of the price cuts I mean right now ps3 you get a Blu ray play and Wifi built in and playing free online wich as for the 360 you need a wifi adapter and A gold member acount but i do say the 360 online is pretty impressive right now with Netflix and the upcoming Facebook and Last.Fm. and twitter additions. if you wanna pick one system go for the ps3 but if you can go for both just so you wont lose out on not playing games one system has over another.
also the new systems for the 360 have the jasper chip i know two people who bought the arcade systems when they came out and have yet to have any RROD issues.
CANADA GETS RIPPED OFF AGAIN! - M$ is only lowering the price here by $70. Um hello, with the exchange rate $100 us exchange to Canadian money should be $92 off.
Or $109.32 Canadian
Blu-Ray $20-$30 each movie.
Netflix $4.95 for a lot albeit slightly limited selection and the occasional red ring.
I have both systems and I use the 360 for movies. Blu-Ray prices are just ridiculously over-priced and there is that INCREDIBLE convenience of HD streaming and immediate gratification.
Hek if you realize if you want a dvd now a days with the bonus features and not the crap barebones edition ones that they have been doing the last year and a half now your basicly paying as much as a blu ray. and 20 bucks is about the same price as dvds if you get new realases you actaully gotta do some work and find good deals really its all what it comes down to.
I bought a 360 Arcade a month ago without knowing they were going to phase them out. I want a 60GB hard drive...
Jasper?
I think by the end of the year, I am going to have all 3 consoles. If I was a talented modder (which I am not) I would mash them all together in one box and call in a PS Wii60.
go ahead and low rank me now. I deserve it.