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Mole sez Xbox 360 price cuts coming in September: Arcade for $199
Microsoft's 20GB Xbox 360 Pro already stooped to $299, but one particular mole -- the same one who correctly called the 60GB edition of the console -- is suggesting that further slashing is in store. To be specific, we're talking about a $199 Arcade (no HDD), $299 Pro (60GB HDD) and a $399 Elite (120GB HDD), all of which should be available at those prices sometime next month. Furthermore, it's likely that Microsoft will toss out a few bundles in order to reel in the holiday shoppers, though details are sparse about which ones we'll be seeing. Our take? Hold off just a bit -- we get the feeling this here is more than hot air.
Silver Satin PS3 and Xbox 360 Arcade now loose in Japan
Announced in early February, both the Silver Satin PS3 and Xbox 360 Arcade are now on sale in Japan. The SS PS3 is a spec-for-spec equivalent of the existing black and white Japanese models. However, this is the first time the entry-level Xbox 360, already available outside of Nippon, makes an appearance on Japanese soil. Guess which one Japanese gamers are more likely to buy? Right, the Wii.Read -- PS3Read -- Xbox 360 Arcade
Rumor: Euro Xbox 360 price cut on March 14
Good fortune may soon be smiling on our European friends according to a report on Tech Radar that says the Xbox 360 will be getting a 50 Euro price cut on every SKU on March 14. Citing "numerous well-placed games industry sources," that have been corroborated by European retailers, the price cut rumor has yet to be confirmed or denied by Microsoft. If true, the premium Xbox 360 package would be priced at € 250 ($380) while the Arcade pack would ring it to around €197 ($300). This would mean that the Xbox 360 Arcade SKU would sell for less than the popular Nintendo Wii, which in most cases is available for around € 234 ($356) on Amazon's UK site. While we haven't been able to substantiate these reports, we will keep you informed as soon as new details emerge.
Xbox 360 Arcade console to make a Japanese debut
Seen as the bastard child of the Xbox 360 console SKUs, the Xbox 360 Arcade and its 256MB memory card are officially making their way to Japan's retail stores.The new Arcade bundle will retail for 27,800 Yen (roughly $260 US) and be nearly identical to the United States' Arcade bundle including an HDMI port, wireless controller, 256MB memory card and five XBLA games. It wasn't made clear of Japan's Xbox 360 Core bundle will be going the way of the U.S.'s (see: no more Core), but we're thinking that isn't the highest priority right now. Priority number one is to get anyone in Japan to buy an Xbox 360 at any price. And even though we don't think the Xbox 360 Arcade is going to be the 360's savior in Japan, it's a step in the right direction to make the product a bit cheaper. And that's good ... right?
Xbox 360 'arcade model' hits Japan March 6
It's been revealed that Japan is due to receive an Xbox 360 Arcade equivalent on March 6, giving consumers an entry level option. Actually, the Japanese are getting a pretty good deal with the ¥27,800 ($260) model -- it's $20 less than the model in the States and that's before including respective state sales taxes.To say that the Xbox 360 has struggled in Japan is an obvious understatement. Microsoft sold a mere quarter million units last year in Japan, compared to the PS3's 1.2 million and the Wii's 3.6 million. The Arcade model may not be Microsoft's great hope to make the Xbox 360 big in the Japanese market, but the company certainly gets an E for effort. [Via Engadget]
Entry level Xbox 360 hitting Japan on March 6
In hopes of reviving creating interest for its console in Japan, Microsoft just announced the March 6th launch of an entry-level Xbox 360 in the land of the rising sun. The Japanese equivalent of the Xbox 360 Arcade will sell for tax-inclusive ¥27,800 (about $260) and bundle an extra 256MB memory unit, wireless controller, and game pack. Hey Microsoft, that's $20 cheaper than your Arcade sells domestically without factoring in the added tax. Discount please?
Persuade a pal to buy an Xbox 360, enjoy ten XBLA games gratis
Xbox 360 and promotions tend to go hand-in-hand, and the latest ploy to convince you to convince your Xbox-less pals to join in involves ten free Xbox Live Arcade titles. The rules are pretty simple: just wheedle a friend (or enemy, it matters not) to purchase an Xbox 360 before December 14th, fill out an online form together and select ten XBLA games (apiece) free of charge. The catch? It looks like the program is only open to residents of select countries across the pond, meaning that US-based gamers are seemingly left high and dry. Ah well, we never considered ourselves any good at persuasion, anyway.
Microsoft acknowledges Xbox 360 Arcade
After seeing proof of its existence months back via pre-orders, retail leaks and even unboxings, Microsoft has finally decided to announce their new console. Meet the new Xbox 360 Arcade. And just as expected, the Arcade 360 is the Core system's replacement offering newer and more exciting features. W00t, w00t!Enough chit-chat, let's get down to the deets. The Xbox 360 Arcade console is available at retailers right now in the US for $279 (Europe on October 26th for £200/€279) and comes packaged with a 256MB memory card, wireless controller, HDMI connectivity, standard composite cables, and five FULL VERSION XBLA games including Pac-Man: CE, UNO, Luxor 2, Boom Boom Rocket and Feeding Frenzy. And just like the Core system before it, the Arcade will not come with a HDD (that's what the memory card is for, silly).Again, sorry if the revelation of a new console doesn't surprise you as Microsoft has made a habit of having retailers make their announcements for them. No matter though, the Xbox 360 Arcade is definitely a step in the right direction as far as a replacement for the Core goes. Getting all the same Core goodness plus a memory card, wireless controller and games (not to mention HDMI too) all for the same price makes us rather jolly fanboys. Can't you see our smile?
Microsoft announces Xbox 360 Arcade, goodbye Xbox 360 Core
Oh our god you guys, Microsoft totally just blew our minds and officially announced this new version the Xbox called the Xbox 360 Arcade. It's like the Core, right? Except now it comes bundled with five arcade style games (Pac-Man, Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, and Uno), a wireless controller, HDMI, and a 256MB memory card for $280. (But like the Core, there's still no hard drive.) We so had no clue this was coming, Microsoft just completely, totally blindsided us. Damn you, Redmond, for being so very clever.%Gallery-8967%
Microsoft sort of owns up to the Xbox 360 Arcade
Well, it looks like Microsoft has acknowledged what we've known for almost a week -- the Xbox 360 Arcade is real and shipping. When asked by the Financial Times, Microsoft's Robbie Bach said the $279 console was designed to draw in gamers who are "more casually focused, they're looking for a new family experience or they're more price focused." Robbie might want to tell the rest of Microsoft that the cat's out of the bag though -- their PR reps are still telling our buds at Joystiq that they don't have anything to announce. [Via Joystiq]
Xbox 360 Arcade confirmed by MS, short on details
Finally, someone from Microsoft has acknowledged the Xbox 360 Arcade console: "Arcade becomes [for us] the ability to bring in a new set of audiences. They're probably a little bit more casually focused, they're looking for a new family experience or they're more price focused," Robbie Bach told Financial Times, marking Microsoft's first public comments about the new SKU. The FT report also suggests a $279 price tag, but fails to relate sound information about the included "games" (or are they demos?) and an official street date -- maybe that's because Xbox 360 Arcade has already arrived.When asked for comment, a Microsoft rep fed us the old: "We have nothing to announce at this time. Thanks!" What's the deal?
Engadget unboxes 360 Arcade
So, we guess it's real then. Our buddies over at Engadget have some exclusive shots of a reader unboxing a brand new Xbox 360 Arcade. Yeah, they managed to snag unboxing photos before Microsoft has even officially confirmed its existence. Take that, public relations! As reported before, the console comes complete with an HDMI port (sans cord) and a 256MB memory card. One interesting new bit of information: it turns out that the console does not come with 5 Xbox Live Arcade games. What it does come with are 5 Xbox Live Arcade demos. Yeah, demos. That you could have downloaded for free anyway. Sure, the inclusion of a larger memory card makes it more usable than the (now defunct?) Core, but it doesn't quite seem like such a good deal a>[Update: There seems to be some confusion regarding whether or not the 360 Arcade comes with 5 full games. The verbiage on the box (Plust 5 Trial Games!) refers to the 5 games on the disc or extra trial games beyond the 5 full games included. We're looking into it. Update as soon as we know for sure.][Thanks, DaveC]
Xbox 360 Arcade unboxed
Thanks to Emanuel, an intrepid tipster who went above and beyond the call of duty, we managed to get a full unboxing of the Xbox 360 Arcade before Microsoft has even been able to send out a press release about the thing. Whenever the console officially lands, you can expect to pick up the hard drive free console for around $299.99 (Amazon said $279.99), which includes a 256MB Memory Card, a Wireless controller, an HDMI port minus the cable, and a disc that includes copies demos of Xbox LIVE Arcade games Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship, and Uno. Check out the full gallery below.Update: We added some more shots from before the unboxing, including one for the eagle-eyed that shows the all important manufacture date: September 4th, 2007.[Thanks again, Emanuel E.!]%Gallery-8636%
Second Xbox 360 Arcade spotted in the wild
Although there's still no official word from Microsoft about the Xbox 360 Arcade, we've just received a second picture of a boxed unit sitting on the shelves of a retail store: this time in a Methuen, MA store, only miles away from the unit spotted in Haverhill. New details include a Harry Potter / Lego Star Wars back, along with details on included games -- we can make out Uno, Pac-Man, Luxor 2, and two other indistinguishable logos. The closeness of the two spottings indicates that this early leak is the fault of whoever put a pallet on a truck without marking it with the correct ship date. In that case, don't expect an early announcement from Microsoft.[Thanks, Emanuel E.]%Gallery-8607%
Xbox 360 Arcade finds a shelf in the wild
Well, would you look at that. A Target store in Haverhill, MA has one of those Xbox 360 Arcade getups we've heard a thing or two about lately. If our eyes don't deceive us, that blurry pricetag is showing off a $280 pricetag, which isn't too surprising no matter how exciting a $250 tag would've been. Who knows how much more evidence it's going to take for Microsoft to finally fess up to this one, but we're enjoying the spy shots while they last. There's another pic after the break.[Thanks, Paul A.]
Xbox 360 Arcade ads spotted in the wild
As if we needed any more proof that Microsoft is set to replace its current low-end Xbox 360 Core console with the long-rumored Xbox 360 Arcade version, GameSpot has now scored a picture of an actual retail display that seemingly all but confirms the Arcade's existence (and imminent release). While there's no price to be seen, the ad does apparently confirm that the console will come bundled with a wireless controller, a 256MB memory card, and five unspecified arcade games. Still no word from Microsoft on all this, of course, although we have a sneaking suspicion that the next "sighting" will likely be in the form of an official announcement.[Via Joystiq]
360 Arcade spotted in retail ads
Falling under the category of "all 360 rumors are true," GameSpot has, um, spotted further evidence of the impending arrival of the Xbox 360 Arcade console. It seems an unknown retailer is already displaying a store advertisement describing the Xbox 360 Arcade and all its marvelous features. The ad reconfirms everything we've already heard: wireless control, 5 arcade games, and a 256MB memory card. The ad makes no mention of price though, but we're willing to bet the current Core System price of $279 will stick to the Arcade as well. All we really need now is a date. Let's just throw one out now. Hmmm ... how about Black Friday? Sound good? Great.We're sorry Core, but your days are numbered.[Via Joystiq]
Xbox 360 Arcade console up for pre-order [update]
Update: Toys R Us already yanked the pre-order page. Those Microsoft ninjas are quick, but we still have proof.Adding more street cred and pretty much confirming the rumor of a new Xbox 360 Arcade console that is set on a mission to replace the Core is brand new pre-order proof. Both Amazon.com and Toys R Us are offering pre-orders for a yet to be announced product called the Xbox 360 Arcade console set to retail for $279 in the US and be released either on October 23rd or the 25th. The new Arcade console (which features a wireless controller, memory card and a few XBLA games) has been rumored for a while now and recently appeared in Best Buy's product database, but now with these pre-orders popping up all over we're rather confident in accepting its existence. Sorry Microsoft, your product announcement plans have been foiled once again by the evil that goes by the name of ... retail.[Via TeamXbox]Read - Pre-order at Amazon.comRead - Pre-order at Toys R Us
Xbox 360 Arcade console landing on October 23rd?
C'mon, surely you've coped with the fact that Microsoft's Xbox 360 Core system will likely be replaced with the impending Arcade console, right? If not, now would be a great time for some serious soul-searching, because both Amazon and Toys 'R' Us are listing the system on their respective websites as having an October 23rd ship date. Of course, we're still not sure exactly what ports / extras the Arcade flavor will arrive with, but it's safe to say it'll run you $279.99 when it (probably) ships in three weeks.Read - Amazon's listingRead - Toys 'R' Us' listing
