Earlier this week, we had reported that Microsoft had slashed the prices of the Xbox 360 in Japan. The price cut made Xbox 360 Arcade the first in the current generation consoles to have a price point below 20,000 yen. Now Microsoft has sent word that they will be cutting the prices of the Xbox 360 in the United States also.
So what are the new prices of the different models of Microsoft’s next generation gaming console? Well, the Xbox 360 Arcade will come with a price tag of $199.99 (approx. Rs. 8790). The 60GB Xbox 360 will cost $299.99 (approx. Rs. 13, 180) and the Xbox 360 Elite will cost $399.99 (approx. Rs. 17, 690). The price cuts mean that the Xbox 360 Arcade costs less than the Nintendo Wii!
Don Mattrick, Senior VP, Interactive Entertainment Business, Microsoft says, “We are thrilled to be the first next-generation console on the market to reach $199, a price that invites everyone to enjoy Xbox 360. Xbox 360 delivers amazing performance at an extraordinary value with the leading online service and best lineup of games, downloadable movies and TV shows available from a console. The majority of consumers make the decision to buy consoles once the price falls to this mark, making this an important milestone for consumers and the industry.”
The Xbox 360 price cuts in the United States will be affective from September 5, 2008. Microsoft has stated that three-fourths of console sales happen after their prices goes below the $200 mark.