After recently cutting the cost of its Xbox 360 game console during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) last month, Microsoft may again launch a fresh wave of price cuts prior to the holiday shopping rush.
If true, the Xbox 360 Arcade model would be priced at $199, a price down from $249; making it the first next-generation console to hit the prized $200 price point, which Microsoft hopes will help drive sales. The 60GB Pro model would cost $299 and the Elite 120GB model would drop down to $399.
There also will be new hardware and software bundles that will be released before the holidays.
The information comes from the same "mole" who told Ars Technica journalist Ben Kuchera that Microsoft would publicly announce the 60GB during E3, which turned out to be accurate.
The Nintendo Wii, which sells for $249, currently is the cheapest next-gen game console available on the market. Both Nintendo and Sony, maker of the PlayStation 3, are not expected to cut prices to their gaming consoles any time soon. Microsoft anticipates a further price cut will help a wider audience become Xbox 360 users, who can head online to use Marketplace and new experience dashboard, and other features.
No one had any thoughts on this? Interesting...
I for one am glad to see Microsoft launch another wave of price cuts, as it will hopefully force Sony to also cut prices sometime in the future (hopefully before Christmas).
It's true that the Wii continues to outsell both the Xbox 360 and PS3, but hardcore gamers say only the PS3 and Xbox 360 matter. As such, finally getting a real console for under $200 should help get gamers who were sitting on the fence to finally purchase a game console and start playing.
(I know a couple of people who are avid PC gamers that want to try their hand at console gaming, but weren't ready to drop the cash on a PS3 or Xbox 360. I think Microsoft will be able to find success from gamers like my buddies.)
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