Xbox 360 Elite
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Xbox 360 Elite bundle rumored to include Halo 3 and Fable 2 for $400
Don't get all loony just yet -- this one's still a long, long way from panning out -- but ArsTechnica has it from a reliable mole that Microsoft is gearing up to ship an even more attractive Xbox 360 Elite. One that comes bundled with hits Halo 3 and Fable 2 for the same $400 that the console alone runs you now. We already heard last month that Microsoft was considering phasing out the standard Elite in favor of bundled "limited edition" models, so that certainly jibes. Though, we will caution you that the last time Ars's mole spoke of console price drops, he / she didn't completely nail it. While said mole did accurately suggest that a $400 PS3 would hit America before the 2007 holiday rush (it happened in late October of that year), the whole "$100 PS2" thing took a full two years to come to fruition. Then again, E3 is just around the bend...[Via Joystiq]
Rumor: $400 Xbox 360 Elite bundle features Halo 3 and Fable 2
$400 will get you a lot these days. You can buy yourself any of the existing major consoles on the market, or you soon might be able to buy Microsoft's newer and more improved Elite console bundle. Word is that Microsoft will be jam-packing its existing Elite bundles with copies of Halo 3 and Fable 2, you know, just for fun. The best part is, the console won't be increasing in price. The bad news is that you're now furious if you already bought an Elite console.Ars Technica says that we'll have confirmation on this rumor by the end of next week, so that leaves us little time for the confirmation/debunking party. Who's on chips and dip duty?
Wendy's giving away 'Ultimate Game Room' for a buck
It's not just cholesterol and square burgers that Wendy's is serving up, but gaming gear as well. A tipster sends word that the "waaaay better than fast food" fast food chain is running an online promotion called '99¢ Bid for Value,' with an "Ultimate Game Room" to be won for $1. The catch? This is a "reverse auction," with visitors answering trivia questions in order to bid down a prize's price tag. The first auction-goer to reach 99¢ first wins the haul, with an Xbox 360, gaming chair and plasma television all up for grabs. A different prize is set to go up on the blocks every half hour starting at 11am EST today. The auction breaks down like this: 11:00 AM EST – 11:29 AM EST Microsoft - Xbox 360 Elite Console 11:30 AM EST – 11:59 AM EST Ultimate Game Chair - Ultimate Game Chair V3 12:00 PM EST – 12:29 PM EST Panasonic - 50" 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV 12:30 PM EST – 12:59 PM EST Ultimate Game Room - Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite Console, Ultimate Game Chair V3, Panasonic - 50" 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV So set your watches, make with the clicking and good luck.
Xbox 360 Elite being phased out in favor of limited edition models?
This one's still a long ways from actually panning out, but Fudzilla is reporting that Microsoft could be about to phase out its standard Xbox 360 Elite console and instead fill out the top end of the scale with limited edition models like the recent Resident Evil 5 bundle. According to the site's unnamed sources, Microsoft would get the transition started by simply letting inventory dry up beginning sometime in the second quarter of this year, during which time it would apparently limit sales of the console to North America and Europe. Then, once those have all been moved off the shelves, Microsoft would supposedly shift its attention to new, potentially even pricier, limited edition consoles, which themselves could well be limited to select retailers. In other Xbox 360 news, Fudzilla also says that Microsoft could soon be offering a new standalone hard drive that's bigger than the 120GB drive now found in the Elite, although there's no indication as to exactly how much bigger.[Via Joystiq]
Rumor: Xbox Elite being phased out, assuming 'limited edition' retail role
According to Fudzilla, Microsoft will be ending the mass availability of the Xbox 360 Elite in many parts of the world and plans on positioning it as a more "limited edition" console, as was originally intended.Supposedly, retailers are less supportive of the higher-priced Elite consoles during these craptacular economic times, because their consumer demand is lower than the Arcade and Pro. As a result, Microsoft may be limiting the console's sales to select retailers in North America and Europe and stop taking Elite orders in other territories sometime during Q2.The rumored Elite phase-out would allow it to be marketed as a "limited edition" offering, giving MS the option to sell specially themed (and possibly higher priced) Elite bundles when triple-A titles need promotion. (Think the Resident Evil 5 Elite bundle.) Fudzilla also mentions that Microsoft wants to expand the 360's storage capabilities by releasing a standalone drive that's larger than the Elite's current 120GB model.
Red Xbox 360 Resident Evil Limited Edition spotted in the wild
New 360 SKUs always seem to land on Target shelves a bit early, and the new Resident Evil 5 red Xbox 360 Elite limited edition is no exception -- there it is, hanging out in Pembroke Pines, Florida. We don't know if these are just out behind the counter or if the staff is just ignoring that DO NOT SELL BEFORE 3.13.09 sticker, but we're certain some kind soul will let us know soon.[Thanks, Morgan]
Red Xbox 360 mentioned in PR, is probably real
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/microsoft/Red_Xbox_360_mentioned_in_PR_is_probably_real'; So it looks like that red Xbox 360 Elite that we heard might be on its way is, in fact, on its way. A press release for Halo Wars in New Zealand makes mention of the phantom console -- the deal is that anyone buying a new Xbox 360 will get a free copy of the game, but the fine print excludes the doesn't-yet-exist red model, because it's "exclusive to EB Games." So this is the Resident Evil 5 one? It's all so unclear. We haven't picked up on any context clues as to a time frame for release or price. Yet.[Via Joystiq]
Red Xbox 360 Elite mentioned in MS press release
In a quest to end the bitterness between the Xbox 360 and the color red, Microsoft appears to be reconciling the two in a new Xbox 360 Elite SKU. The unannounced product has stumbled into the public eye much in the same way that many of Microsoft's secrets do -- first a rumor, then a retailer inventory listing and then an innocent mention in a New Zealand-bound press release.Alright, maybe that last one doesn't quite adhere to the formula, but according to Kotaku, an MS New Zealand promotion for the upcoming release of Halo Wars -- buy a 360, get a free copy of the game! -- explicitly excluded "the Red Xbox 360 Elite console which is exclusive to EB games." You know, that one that hasn't been announced, and that certainly won't be announced "at this time."Though mention of the system has been stricken from the online version of the press release, we'd be immensely disappointed if the system, whether tied to Resident Evil 5 or not, failed to make an appearance. We can't let all these Red Rig of Death jokes go to waste!Source -- Red Xbox 360 Mentioned Officially by MicrosoftSource -- MS quiet on red Xbox 360 rumorsSource -- Halo Wars Promotion
Totally rad, red Xbox 360 spied in Toys R Us fine print
Is this for reals? If so... yay! If the above screenshot of a Toys R Us terminal is to be believed, there might be a new, red Xbox 360 Elite on its way to a shelf near you. Details beyond the SKU are pretty scant, but the price is the same as the current Xbox 360 Elite model -- $399. We know a certain, fashion-conscious avatar who is going to be really excited if this is true.[Via Joystiq]
Europe receiving Xbox 360 price cut on Sept. 19
Microsoft announced today that Europe would be joining North America in receiving an Xbox 360 price cut. The UK will receive a £30 reduction across all three models, while those on the mainland will receive varied reductions for their Euros. Xbox 360 Arcade - £129 / €179 60GB Pro - £169 / €239 120GB Elite - £229 / €299 The previous prices were £159 / €199 for the Arcade, £199 / €269 for Pro and £259 / €369 for the Elite. We'll have to wait and see if the price drop doubles sales in Europe like it allegedly did in North America.
Microsoft: Xbox 360 sales double following price drop
The recent Xbox 360 price cut doubled sales of the console last weekend, according to Microsoft. The company tells Bloomberg that some consoles sold "six times" the previous weekend's rate ... of course, Microsoft didn't actually give any hard sales numbers.For actual sales data since the price cut, it appears we'll have to wait another month for the NPD data -- unless Microsoft just comes out with it. The August NPD data (which should release very soon) won't reflect the alleged jump in sales. [Via GameDaily]
Free $60 Amazon gift card with Elite 360 purchase
As if a $259 Xbox 360 20GB console wasn't a good enough deal for you, take a look at what Amazon.com is offering those who want to purchase a newly price reduced $399 Xbox 360 Elite.For a limited time (exact offer dates aren't given), Amazon.com is giving Xbox 360 Elite purchasers a free $60 gift card that's promised to be emailed before September 30th. And, as always, purchases over $25 on Amazon.com receive free shipping. Enjoy![Thanks, shuref00t]
Xbox 360 price cuts official as of Sept. 5: 60GB $299, Elite $399, Arcade $199
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/Xbox_360_price_cuts_60GB_299_Elite_399_Arcade_199'; Major Nelson announced that the price cuts for the Xbox 360 we reported on two weeks ago will be official as of Sept. 5. The new prices for the console are: Xbox 360 Arcade - $199 Xbox 360 60GB - $299 Xbox 360 Elite - $399 This means that the Elite and 60GB received a $50 price drop, while the Arcade received an $80 cut. Now we wait to see if the new prices help boost the Xbox 360's slouching sales.
Not big in Japan: Xbox 360's price tag
The Xbox 360's continued struggle to win the hearts, minds and tightly shut wallets of Japanese gamers is not without benefits for tardy adopters. Microsoft has announced a new price drop for the system in the region, with the Xbox 360 Arcade model costing 19,800 yen ($180) as of September 11th. The nearly 30% drop will make the system the cheapest of the current-gen bunch -- and yes, that includes the Wii, you snarkastic lot sitting at the back.In addition, the 60GB Xbox 360 will be introduced to Japan at 29,800 yen ($270), while the Elite will have its price chopped to 39,800 yen ($370).[Via Engadget]
Rumor: Kmart flyer shows Sept. 7 Xbox 360 price drop
An image showing up on several forums (including QJ.net and HighDefDigest) allegedly shows the Sept.7 Kmart flyer featuring the expected rumored Xbox 360 price cut. This latest ad comes a week after a Radio Shack flyer featured similar information. If this Xbox 360 price cut plays out anything like the one from last month, we'll continue receiving a steady stream of retail ad and system confirmations without a word from Microsoft until the 11th hour. Expect another gallery post with all the retail information if that's what happens.[Via X3F]
Radio Shack ad confirms Xbox 360 price cuts?
According to our good, dear, beautiful friends at Joystiq (and Radio Shack, incidentally) the Xbox 360 family is going to be seeing those rumored price cuts in the very near future. Falling right in line with that chatter we heard at the beginning of the month, a leaked Radio Shack circular seems to indicate that there will be reductions across the board for the console, with the 60GB version clocking in at $299, the Elite running you a cool $399, and the Arcade setup dropping to a totally affordable $199 (we're looking at you, potential Xbox LIVE opponents). Sure this could all be some Photoshop wiz's idea of a hilarious joke, but we're keeping the fingers and toes crossed over here. Target date for truth? September 7th -- so stay tuned.
Sources: Xbox 360 price cut week of Sept. 7; 60GB $299, Elite $399, Arcade $199
Click to embiggen It appears that two of the Xbox 360 SKUs will receive a $50 price drop by the week of Sept. 7, making the 60GB model $299 and the Elite $399 -- we've yet to hear any change on the $279 Arcade meanwhile, the Arcade will drop $80 to $199. A few of our retail contacts, some of whom have given us good intel in the past and who all work for separate corporations, have sent us identical information regarding a price drop. Evidence of the Elite and Arcade price cut can be found in the gallery below.Update: Oh mercy, it's been a long day. The Arcade is marked as $199 in the flyer as well (under the TV, to the left). Thanks, Strike Man.[Thanks Patrick, Master X, and everyone else who helped.]%Gallery-30107%
Dell now selling Xbox 360 Elite bundle for $349
If you missed out on Dell.com's last amazingly cheap Xbox 360 Elite bundle deal and are willing to pay $50 more, then we think we have the perfect deal for you.For only $349 with free shipping, United States Dell.com purchasers can grab an Xbox 360 Elite bundle complete with the console itself, Forza 2, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and two additional faceplates. Though, to get the $349 pricing, you'll have to use a $100 off coupon code. To do this, simply head to Dell.com, click "Customize It", then click "Buy Now", then "Add to Shopping Cart". Now, once at the checkout screen, enter coupon code V8Q199$GCXJWL$ in the "Coupon Entry" field. Shazaam! The $449 price tag magically drops to $349. Note too that the coupon is only good through August 20th.[Via FatWallet]
Dell.com: $299 Xbox 360 Elite, 2 games, 2 faceplates [update]
If you're stlll Xbox 360-less and looking for a deal, then don't bother with the $299 clearance-sale 20GB Xbox 360 ... or the new $349 60GB 360 for that matter. Dell.com has the $450 Xbox 360 Elite for the low, low price of $299. But that's not all! If you act now (or, presumably, at any point between now and when they inevitably sell out) you'll also get copies of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Forza 2, along with two rather unseemly faceplates.Update: The promotion has ended -- it's back to $450.[Via X3F]
Dell offering up a $299 Xbox 360 Elite while supplies last
Dell did its best to unload its seemingly abundant supply of Xbox 360 Elite bundles by selling them alongside XPS M1730 machines, but just in case a few of you didn't have $3,000 set aside to score the both of them, Dell is now offering the Elite bundle all by its lonesome for mere $299 -- a nice $150 savings. To un-sweeten the deal, they're also tossing in a couple ugly faceplates, Forza 2 and Marvel Ultimate Alliance. Get 'em before they're gone.[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy; thanks to everyone who sent this in]
