Xbox 360s playable at Wal-Mart today? Confirmed.

by Vladimir Cole { Oct 19th 2005 at 11:00AM }

Xbox 360 console A reader in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin wrote to tell us that his local Wal-Mart has a playable Xbox 360 on display with demos of Call of Duty 2, Kameo, and King Kong. There are also looping videos of other games. We called that Wal-Mart to confirm and were told by the person working in electronics that this is in fact true. According to him, "Wal-Marts are going to be the first stores to have Xbox 360s." He said that a Microsoft representative came by and just decided to set up an Xbox 360 in Sun Prairie. Go figger.

The Philadelphia, PA store does NOT have an Xbox 360 yet. Does your local Wal-Mart have playable Xbox 360s? To find out:

Go to walmart.com
Enter your zipcode in the "Store Finder" on the bottom of the left-most column
Call the number listed, and ask to be transferred to electronics
Ask!
Post an update here and let us know.

Confirmed at many, many, many places. Check the comments for your location by doing a control-F (find!) for your city/state. Nice work by all of you in scouting these locations out!

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)

Art Guy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Ew. You mean I'd have to go into a Wal-Mart? I don't think I own that much disinfectant. Must resist...

Russell @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

I just randomly hit this article after some surfing around links on Penny Arcade, and was shocked to hear that Wal-Mart has 360s. Not really that they have them, but I work at Best Buy and we were told by management that WE would have the first ones sometime next week or two, being exclusive to having them playable. This is something I'll talk to my managers about and maybe something changed that wasn't conveyed to every employee.

Zachary @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Right on #1 I wouldn't go into the local wal-mart without a haz mat suit, and I sure as hell wouldn't touch the 360 contoller after more than 4-5 minutes of being opened.

BxJoseff @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

You have to take into account that Wal-Mart doesn't exist in every market. Even though I've heard of Wal-Mart, super stores like Target and Best Buy reign supreme here in New York City. In fact, we won't allow a Wal-Mart to be built in the five boroughs and I think the closest one is across the river in Jersey. So for Best Buy having an exclusive first with XB360 kiosks, it might be true in NYC after all.

daver @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Walmart. Ack. Why ? Do Gates Moroe and Allard shop at Walmart ?

Hooligan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Naugatuck, Connecticut Walmart has the Xbox360 playable unit, but they have to wait for a Microsoft Rep to set it up. I bet the electronics department at Walmart has already had a field day with this thing.

Frogbrother @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

The good thing about the Xbox360 being at a Wal-Mart is you can probably find a hazmat suit for purchase a few isles over.

Dennis - Help me fight for me son @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

I JUST saw one last ight, I was going to take pictures and send into Joustiq.

DeKalb, Illinois

NeoScyther @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Personally, I wouldn't mind trying a 360, I just have no intentions of buying one right when they come out. I also have no plans of going to a Wal-Mart just to try one, so I'll just wait until another store has it (ie. Best Buy, Gamestop, EB, etc.).

Jason Will @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

I was in WAL-MART last night (getting BATMAN BEGINS) and got to watch them hook it up and was the first to play it!

Ypsilanti, MI

J @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

@4 You'r bugging son. There is definitely a wal-mart on Long Island, in fact a couple.
1. Valley Stream (Li), NY 11581
2. Uniondale, NY 11553
3. Westbury (Li), NY 11590
4. East Meadow, NY 11554
5. Massapequa (Li), NY 11758
But you'r right, not a single wal-mart in the fantastic 5. But I'm from LI any how so what the hell, I might have to go check it out.

@1 You'r fingers are just as dirty as about everyone elses OR you will die from bacteria that most of us are immune to by now LOL!!!! I'm sure going to you'r friends house and playing on there xbox has just as much if not more grime on the controller. Eating chips while you play Halo2 anyone?

Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Why Wal-Mart? Because they sell more games than EBGames, GameStop, BestBuy, Circuit City, etc etc.

Bedpanjohn @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

I am wondering if there will be any reports of some being stolen... the 360 at the walmart i went to was just behind the glass not locked down or anything, i could see an employing running off with it...

i was overall pleased with the graphics and game play.. I had pretty low expectations but now i am thinking about getting one, once i can afford a HD TV

corkman @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Yep. Gates goes there every Saturday morning. He usually Buys Kool-Aid, 725 threads and some fresh underwear.

Instead of calling to find out if there is a 360 at these stores one should find out if Shadow of the Colossus is there instead. I cannot find it anywhere. V annoying.

Edward @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Because in some areas, Wal-Mart is more dominant than the other major retailers(think small town Midwest). Add to that that Wal-Mart pushes more product than most other retailers and some Wal-Mart stores also sell groceries creating the convenience of one-stop shopping. That�s a good way to get the product in front of parents without making a special trip. I�m not defending Wal-Mart, but these are some reasons why they might show it there.
Another guess is that Wal-Mart sells more Core SKU�s than Premium, and more Core than anyone else.

J Dub @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

They have 'em in Albuquerque, NM. That's the only reason I'll visit wallyworld.

benderillo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

I work in Madison about 10 minutes away from that store...

I guess I know where I am going for lunch :)

OTAM @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Why Walmart?

Because they are the biggest chain store and nearly EVERYONE and their soccer moms shop at Walmart.

If Microsoft is trying to bring in the casual gamer and whatnot installing a 360 setup with a $299 pricetag sounds like a smart plan to me.

Random92 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

No way!
just called up my local walmart here in St. Anthony, MN and the guy said they were supposed to have it in already, so it should be there with the next shipment or something.

this is great, hehehe

zu27 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

any location in Houston??? havnt found one yet...

Russell @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

To #4's comment, you're probably right. Chances are I misheard the conversation. To anyone who works retail and has meetings before the store opens, I'm sure at least someone's dozed off during those meetings. Chances are that's what happened. I heard exclusive, I heard 360, and I meshed them together, and they wern't part of the same topic.

Andrew @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

:( No luck in Warminster, PA, but the girl I talked to sounded like an airhead.

Ben H @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

l just called my local wal mart at Phillipsburg,NJ and the woman said they were set up yesterday.

Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Alpharetta, GA is a no-show at this point

Deluxe Edition aka SlyOneil @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Ohhh Yeah. 360 for the masses. Micro$oft is really working hard on the 'DL'. It has begun.

Random92 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

well, called up the store in Fridley, MN and they have it! set up today!
i'm off now ;)

Metalghosts @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Nothing yet in Syracuse. In fact the guy was very emphatic about not having 'anything like that'. Hmmm....

DG @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

It'd be neat to play it, but to echo the comments of others, I'd have to go to Wal-Mart. No thanks.

woejilli @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

100% confirmed at walmart in Ames, IA. was able to play Call of Duty and King Kong.

thriftstore @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

microsoft has no love for the dunvale wal-mart in houston, tx. although it did look like they were makin room for something. i wish they already had that grand theft auto for the psp.

Mike @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Boise,Id has one at its wal-mart.

Sincere @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Just called the wal-mart in terre haute,indiana, they say that they have one out and going. GUess i'm going to have to take one of those midnight runs, cause i know it's about to be packed

Natdigga @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Walmart in Lincoln, Nebraska has it. On the south side.

kab3wm @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Don't bother calling the Tempe, AZ. Wal-Mart on Elliot St. They do not have one.

BxJoseff @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

#14 From what I'm hearing in NYC.
Shadow of the Colossus is being delivered sometime this afternoon and for some strange reason it's only available for pre-order, so WalMart might not have it if people didn't bother pre-ordering it there...(does Wal-Mart even provide pre-ordering for regularly released games?) I had to pre-order mine at GameStop over a month ago, I get to pick it up this afternoon after work...happy happy joy joy.

John @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

None at either of the St. George, UT Walmarts both the employee at one and the electronics manager of the other seemed clueless as to getting one in the near future.

kingoscar @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

No go at the dumpy Eden Prairie, MN Wal-Mart...

Nathan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Platteville, WI is a no go.

I called Dubuque Iowa, and they say they have the demo, but it's not set up yet. Bastards.

Todd @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

I just called my Walmart in Redding, CA
And they said that they do NOT have a Demo as of yet.
They did tell me however that many of the Wall Mart supercenters have first crack at them and many allready have them set up on display.

MadModder @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

No go in Prescott Az.... Bastards

brod0056 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

I too hate Walmart, but I have to admit that the new one in St. Anthony MN is not bad. I'll be going there tonight.

St. Anthony made Walmart pay 4x what Target was going to pay for the land and enforced a book full of covenants.

Chris @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

No go in Austin, TX. At least the one on 620. Has anyone noticed though that all the confirmed reports are in a very specific region of the us? There's none in the west coast, midwest, or southeast. Seems like it's still on the road in shipments.

Fortyseven @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

I just called the Branford, Guilford, Old Saybrook, and Wallingford stores in Connecticut.

None had a clue about it.

Pretty Obvious @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

Just called my local Walmart in Valley Stream, NY. They said they wont have any setup until next month. Or maybe they just dont know what the hell theyre talking about.

laserboyjc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:05PM

the Addison, IL WalMart said they have it...and the electronics department guy told me he was going to start setting it up now...will swing by later to check it out, since it's on the way home :)
...on a side note, I don't shop at WalMart, but why do so many people have a problem with it in this post? I guess they're afraid of capitalism, cheap household necesseties, or something...