Microsoft confirms: Xbox 360 60GB for $349, 20GB now at $299

by Ross Miller { Jul 13th 2008 at 4:00AM }

Microsoft ha s confirmed that the 20GB Xbox 360 console has received a $50 price cut to $299, and taking its place in the $349 tier is a new 60GB console arriving early August. The Xbox 360 Arcade (i.e. no HDD) will continue to sell for $280 and the Elite (120GB) model will sell for $449.

We wouldn't blame if you if you felt this was old news: rumors of the 60GB model date back to mid-June and it seems like every major retailer confirmed the price cut in the last week. Now if only someone can explain to us why anyone would continue to buy the HDD-less Arcade model when you can get a 20GB hard drive for only $20 more ...

Gallery: Xbox 360 $299 price drop

Tags: 60gb, breakingnews, price-cut, pricecut

Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)

beatboxtaun @ Jul 13th 2008 12:32PM

It's about damn time. For those that have been holding out, it's time to graduate.

GearSecond!! (a.k.a AwesomeStuff) @ Jul 13th 2008 4:16PM

Already ready got my cap and gown set

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 13th 2008 12:50PM

I think it's great MS cut the price on the 60GB HDD. It's still ridiculous, but it's less ridiculous.

But this isn't a price cut, it's a clearance sale, just like with the PS3.

MS was smart to make the hard drive bigger, as the primary use for it is to hold content they sell you. So giving you more space now means more revenue for them later.

DesertPyrate @ Jul 13th 2008 12:54PM

yep the xbox official website says, "while supplies last" a 50.00 savings. So the 360 20gb is going the way of the PS3 20gb, is it me or is this generation on consoles having more SKUs than all the other ones combined? Nintendo is the only one not to change anything yet, I guess its because the Wii is selling like hotcakes. Sony & M$ keep on switching, does anyone see a PS3 price drop before Christmas? I don't. Once the Wii sales manage to slow up you'll see a 200.00 Wii sku, then they'll ship multiple colors as well, as someone whose bought all 3 systems it stinks to be an early adopter in some cases.

Heh @ Jul 13th 2008 1:39PM

I think, as these consoles bridge the gap more and more with modern computers, we will see more of this "bait-and-switch" multi-skus. The consoles this generation are not modest in system power by any means, excluding the Wii of course, and, imho, are a bit overpowered then what was really needed. If you look at the specs of a PS1-PS3 you'll find a HUGE leap in performance between the PS2 and PS3. Why? Simply put, it was an arms race.

Do to this, Sony, and Microsoft, lost a substantial amount of money. While game sales helped aid in restoring this lost money, it still was a matter of "who had the biggest specs for the price point" between both consoles. Eventually, this will degrade down to a "who has a bigger HDD, who has the most features, who is closer to a computer" than that of other generations.

As for the Wii, I assume we will start seeing loads of bundles with it once it stays on store shelves. I've seen it a few times on shelves already, so I assume sometime between spring 09 and summer 09 the stock of Wiis MIGHT be more visible to the common person. Eventually colours will come and, well basically all you have to do is look at Nintendo's market plan with the DS Lite.

tl;dr: Sony and MS make strong consoles and envy computers; Nintendo soon to make their money-printing machine in new colours. Expect more of the same in the time to come.

Mr Khan @ Jul 13th 2008 2:28PM

I believe that is why Nintendo won't announce Wii colors (or the long awaited Black Wii) this week. They have no reason to (granted, they never had a good reason to not introduce multiple colors, its not a stretch of manufacturing resources)

Desi_D @ Jul 13th 2008 2:33PM

What, no snide remarks from 'stiq staff on this clearance sale?!

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/14/ps3-60gb-is-not-a-price-drop-its-a-clearance-sale/

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 13th 2008 5:27PM

Give it time. They were being the PS3 when the new price was announced, only to flip sides later. So by that, they should switch sides and be nasty on this clearance in a week or so.

eilegz @ Jul 13th 2008 3:13PM

so did they fix the rrod in this new version?

juju187 @ Jul 13th 2008 3:16PM

i dont know if they fixed it but, it does run cooler and quieter

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 13th 2008 5:28PM

They fixed it in the last version. They simply removed the RROD from the firmware. If your unit fails, it indicates general failures using a different code. So that ensures you can't collect on the 3-year RROD warranty.

To be fair, the units are more reliable now, but it's still nast to weasel out of your promises like that.