It's official: Xbox 360 price drop coming this Wednesday
by Christopher Grant 
{ Aug 7th 2007 at 12:01AM }
In the wake of leaked flyers from what seems like every major retailer in the country, Microsoft is finally ready to come clean on the Xbox 360 price drop announcing today a $50 cut on the main console (known informally as the Pro or Premium model) from $399 to $349. The price drop – scheduled for August 8th – is timed to coincide with the August 14th release of Madden NFL 08, one of the three titles that would have made up Microsoft's holiday hat trick (before GTA IV pulled out of the race early). Noting the staggering 624 day stretch since the console's November 2005 launch, Microsoft's Mitch Koch said, "The fact that we have been able to keep our launch price longer than any other console while retaining our leadership position demonstrates that consumers believe in the value of Xbox 360." It's not just the Premium system getting its price axed. Just like the flyers promised, the Xbox 360 Core will drop $20 to $279 while the Xbox 360 Elite (which should now actually be available in stores) will see a $30 drop to $449. In a brief chat with Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg, we had a chance to ask about some of the lingering questions surrounding this price drop. Greenberg was quick to point out this decision was timed to coincide with the launch of Madden and not any cost-cutting measures on their part (read: 65nm processors); however, they wouldn't cite specific details on the components. The Premium console is seeing the largest price reduction since it enjoys the largest percentage of sales, at 80% of all Xbox 360 consoles sold. Specific bundles, like this Table Tennis bundle, are retailer specific and not "channel-wide" according to Greenberg, so don't expect to walk into any old box store and pick one up (that one is Circuit City specific).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
maylon @ Aug 7th 2007 12:10AM
They really need to be a little more aggressive than this, with all the news saying they may end up a distant 3rd place in the race.
Zachary Hinchliffe @ Aug 7th 2007 1:08AM
distant 3rd?! i was pretty sure that the PS3 is the losing console right now.
bender @ Aug 7th 2007 10:11AM
What news? The 360's sales are much higher than the ps3's and has sold 6 million more than it. I think you might want to change sources. Just sayin'.
Korova @ Aug 7th 2007 12:11AM
I think I'll roll again.
Big money, big money!
Imadogg @ Aug 7th 2007 12:12AM
Yay the rumors are true.
I say: FINALLY
Imadogg @ Aug 7th 2007 12:12AM
Btw Table Tennis is still unconfirmed for now? Maybe they wanna surprise us
Luigi193 @ Aug 7th 2007 12:13AM
Hey, I might have to pick up one of the terd bundles!!! 275...sweet!
maylon @ Aug 7th 2007 12:15AM
I wish the core would die! Who would it really piss off if all future games required a hdd? Jimbo from bug tussle alabama?
SmellyIrishMan @ Aug 7th 2007 9:38AM
Is this US only or Worldwide?
I'm guessing US only so companies can continue to shaft the europeans?
SmellyIrishMan @ Aug 7th 2007 9:40AM
Bleh, ignore that. Stupid confirmation e-mail took forever to arrive. Us only.
Ben @ Aug 7th 2007 12:20AM
Ok, this might sound stupid, but what was Microsoft's holiday hat trick? Madden 08, Cod 4, Halo 3, Bioshock, Mass Effect. I might be counting wrong, but that's 5 great games right there, is it not? I don't know, I'm confused.
Christopher Grant @ Aug 7th 2007 12:25AM
They pointed to GTA IV, Halo 3, and Madden at their E3 press conference. Three of the most popular games of all time all on one console in one holiday season, etc. etc.
Uchendu Nwachukwu @ Aug 7th 2007 12:26AM
At E3, Peter Moore made a big song and dance about Holiday 2004 being the highest-grossing videogame holiday season in recent memory, and that was because of Halo 2, GTA Vice City and Madden 05 all dropping that holiday. And he said Xbox 360 would be the only place where new games in all three franchises would be dropping this year.
Except GTA 4 isn't coming out this year anymore.
Jake @ Aug 7th 2007 12:37AM
Yes, so while the 360, and I would argue every other platform as well, is getting at least 3 great titles this season, it will not be getting the "perfect circle" or "trifecta of truth" or whatever MS termed it as in their press release. I can't quite remember the exact term.
cc123 @ Aug 7th 2007 12:53AM
They called it:
"Perfect Storm"
I wonder what the new name will be.
mccomber @ Aug 7th 2007 2:03AM
Tempest in a Teapot?
hvnlysoldr @ Aug 7th 2007 12:20AM
Not enough for me. I still got plenty of GCN and Wii games to make up as it is. I can't justify the price of buying a 360 until it costs half that.
ssuk @ Aug 7th 2007 3:15AM
get a job then. I'm sure 12 year olds can get paper rounds...
hvnlysoldr @ Aug 7th 2007 8:47AM
Boo Urns! It's not like I can't raise the funds. It's just that I can't justify using them on a 360 when I already have a console and a handheld. I'd much rather put my money into games I can play on the consoles I already have than blow a huge chunk on buying another console and then buying more games for more systems.
razer @ Aug 7th 2007 12:24AM
I don't think this is enough, not for a 2 year old console. The Wii will be #1 at the end of this month, you would think they would try and get to that price point and not with the gimped Core but with the Premium. Maybe we will see another drop in Dec?
bender @ Aug 7th 2007 12:24AM
Hmm... I was holding out for a $100 price cut and for all the RROD stories to end. I might just get one by this Christmas.
samfish @ Aug 7th 2007 12:31AM
There still aren't enough good games on it to get me to buy one.
Maybe if Banjo Kazooie 3 is good and they announce Jet Force Gemini 2 and Killer Instinct 3, we'll be in business...
Snukadaman @ Aug 7th 2007 12:34AM
why would madden be considered in that hat trick remains a mystery...with the same shit every year.... the better hat trick is bioshock,mass effect, and halo 3....and on topic i got a 432 bucks best buy card from my replacement plan...time for a elite....god bless the RROD FTW
Jake @ Aug 7th 2007 12:42AM
I totally agree with you, snuka, but I Moore was strictly talking relative to sales figures, and therefore mass appeal, and not personal tastes. Most 360 owners, and hardcore gamers in general, would consider Halo3, Bioshock, and Mass Effect as three of the best games this fall. They are my top three, partly because I can't even dream about playing Crysis. Oh, and Galaxy. Whatever, details.
Ben @ Aug 7th 2007 12:36AM
It does make sense now. And this is good, because hopefully this will be my Christmas present.
SneezyPorcupine @ Aug 7th 2007 12:45AM
R.I.P PS3 -> 2006 - 2007, Regret buying it soo soo bad.
wii60 FTW.
That is all.
Aex @ Aug 7th 2007 1:14AM
Sucks to be you :p
I'm loving mine :)
SneezyPorcupine @ Aug 7th 2007 1:48AM
I honestly wouldn't mind it...but everytime i look at it, it just reminds me of spending close to $680CAN to buy it...Even when it comes to watching HD movies, if it comes out for both formats, I almost always end up renting/buying it on HD DVD...like the games don't really appeal to me much either...I had ALOT of fun with the system for about the first month eventhough there wasn't much out for it, but now its just collecting dust. Even worse is that I can't find anyone to buy it from me. everyone wants a Wii but there is no way im selling that.
I guess the PS3 really let me down when i played sum of the multiplatfrom games that I had played on the 360 on the PS3...such as FEAR or Splinter Cell Double Agent...
It felt almost as if in order to make the graphics look softer due to the lack of hardware anti-aliasing they just blurred everything out. Stuff just looks slightly duller and for sum reason BR movies dont go as loud as they do compared to their equivelants on HD...
Especially the fact that things look over-bloomed in most PS3 games...But nevertheless, still holding out for MGS4...If that gets released for 360, im giving my PS3 to good will.
I have both systems connected through optical and the PS3 connected through HDMI, while the 360 is through component...and sumhow stuff still looks shittier. I swear to god, the commercials of games on HD cable sumtime look better than the in-game PS3 footage...
Ben Hobbs @ Aug 7th 2007 3:45PM
HD-DVD should take that up as their next slogan "Our movies go all the way up to 11".
hotnutz @ Aug 7th 2007 7:52PM
wow.. that was by far the most insightful post I have ever read. Ever consider writing news stories for Fox?
Jake @ Aug 7th 2007 12:48AM
$350 isn't that damn much more than a Wii. If this fall's 360 lineup doesn't do anything for you, then the 360 simply isn't the system for you. It's only Nintendo-like games on the horizon are Viva Party, Banjo, and some arcade stuff. The 360 is geared more towards people that think Bioshock and Mass Effect look like fun. Those people probably typically frown on the Wii's lineup as well, which you find adequate.
samfish @ Aug 7th 2007 1:06AM
If that was aimed at me, than you're absolutely 100% correct.
Linkman2004 @ Aug 7th 2007 1:44AM
Anybody who frowns upon Mario Galaxy or Smash Bros. has problems.
Duscrom @ Aug 7th 2007 3:02AM
Hmm let's see, A game that I haven't enjoyed since it went 3D, and a rehash of one of the most shallow fighters in history.... Yeah, something MUST be wrong with me.
ssuk @ Aug 7th 2007 3:23AM
"Anybody who frowns upon Mario Galaxy or Smash Bros. has problems."
Not really, Galaxy doesn't look that fantastic to me. Don't get me wrong, I am an avid fan of Mario 64 and Mario Sunshine, but this game... Just looks like a poorly throught out idea with waggle control. Smash Bros. Brawl looks like an updated version of Melee, which looked like an updated version of SSB 64. So there's little to be really excited about, it's basically like getting excited about a new Fifa game, you know what you're gonna get, it's just been tweaked a bit, few new features here and there. I'm sure your fanboy-ness will be much offended by that remark, but I'm sorry, that's how it is.
After BioShock and Halo 3, I'll be looking into a Wii... I was hoping by the time October rolled around there'd be some serious Wii titles knocking about, but all that would interest me so far is Twilight Princess, Super Paper Mario and WarioWare. Disapointing to say the least.
Jake @ Aug 7th 2007 8:34AM
Linkman,
Yeah, you can say that and I personally agree with you, but the same could be said of Halo3, Mass Effect, and Bioshock. Anyone who thinks those games look anything less than awesome must be smoking something, imo. But my guess is that there are plenty of people without much interest in them. I have several friends with 360's that are looking forward to Halo3, AC6, and COD4, yet have no interest in Mass Effect or Bioshock. It is just the way it works sometimes.
Those three games and their resultant awesomeness have actually made me less excited for Metroid. Galaxy, incidentally, is still high on my list because I haven't played a good Mario game since Mario 64 and I love mario platformers.
Sidepocket @ Aug 7th 2007 9:01PM
Hay dumb fucks...all of gaming does not revolve around you.
For instance, I hate Halo and Halo 3 just looks like the same generic Sci-Fi FPS it ever is. Does that mean its not going to sell like hotcakes, is not a hardcore game, and will not get good reviews?
FUCK NO! It just means I do not like Halo.
Not liking a franchise because of your own personal taste is fine, but making your own taste the de facto of video games is fucking sophomoric.
deaftly @ Aug 7th 2007 11:41AM
smash bros melee was fun for a quick beat em up with no depth, plus the game has been the same exact crap since the n64 version, even that horrible announcer. mario is the only wii game that is looking good imo, but just look at mario sunshine , meh, im just curious to see what wii games are gonna be out after smash, so far the future looks bleak.
noj @ Aug 7th 2007 12:49AM
Hey guys lets try to beat Sony's price cut for 100 bucks, but that 100 bucks will be separated between 3 models. 50, 30 and 20 bucks. Take that SONY!
t_m @ Aug 7th 2007 1:01AM
NOA Statement:
Due to recent market conditions forcing Sony and Microsoft to reduce the price of their consoles we feel that we owe it to our customers and shareholders to respond.
From 1st September we will be increasing the price of the award winning Wii Console by $50 due to market demand.
Furthermore, instead of Wii Sports, the new pack in game will be Far Cry: Vengeance.
Intellectualdiot @ Aug 7th 2007 1:02AM
I'm still quite confused as to why they wouldn't simply have gone all in and dropped the Core to the $250 threshold, which, if coupled with a nationwide Table Tennis bundle, could have made some much needed noise for a console who sales appear to have stagnated considerable in the calendar year. Perhaps doing so wouldn't have been entirely as advantageous as it could have been to institute such drastic changes in the holiday season though, so (we) I shouldn't leap to the conclusion that this price cut is a end rather than a means.
Though, seriously, Rock Band, Bioshock, Mass Effect and Call of Duty 4 (to name a few) ensure that I'll pick up a 360 sooner rather than later.
Covarr @ Aug 7th 2007 1:05AM
Because even though MS has plenty of money to throw around, they don't want to lose that much per console sold. The machine's been around long enough that they had to lower the price if they wanted to continue selling, but if they lowered it too much it would simply amount to poor business.
Covarr @ Aug 7th 2007 1:03AM
"The fact that we have been able to keep our launch price longer than any other console while retaining our leadership position demonstrates that consumers believe in the value of Xbox 360."
No, it demonstrates that the Xbox 360 got a whole year head start. At the rate the Wii has been catching up in sales figures, it's probably safe to assume that the Wii would be ahead if it had launched at the same time as the 360.
Remember, kids: you can work statistics without technically falsifying them to put any console or handheld in the lead, even outdated consoles such as the Game Boy or the Sega Master System.
BNinjaC @ Aug 7th 2007 1:09AM
Can't argue with a price cut but I for one won't be getting a replacement (if I bother at all tbh) for my terminally ill Premium until next spring at the earliest.
I just don't want to be stuck with a 3rd faulty/badly designed unit so I'll let all the suckers buy up the current stock and look for news of the new units :D
MishoM @ Aug 7th 2007 1:13AM
Well this came out of no where. :o
Anyway, I think this might get one of my friends to pick up a 360. :D
Martin @ Aug 7th 2007 10:59AM
What rock have you been living under? This has been rumored and posted about for near two weeks now.
Garrett @ Aug 7th 2007 12:44PM
sarcasm detection check: failed!
NvM @ Aug 7th 2007 1:22AM
Glad I held out for a bit longer.
Steve 3.2 @ Aug 7th 2007 1:23AM
You want a cookie for taking too long to drop the price Mitch? Thank goodness you did this before the Wii outsells the 360 on a worldwide basis later this month. Because you know the mainstream press are going to be all over that like white on rice.
I wonder how long the Wii will remain at $250. Can someone put some crow aside for Mr. Koch in case the Wii remains at $250 past 08/04/08? Thanks.
elmersglue @ Aug 7th 2007 1:29AM
It bothers me that the 360 is way behind the wii and ps3 on amazons top seller list, but i'm assuming it's because those who are in the market for one know about the price drop and are just waiting for it. I think in the end, all the speculation about the price drop over the past few months only hurt Microsoft and the 360 because, seriously, who's going to buy a console when they know the price is going to be dropping sometime in the near future? They better sell like hotcakes on Wednesday, cuz it'll be a shame to see the 360 fall behind.