Xbox 360 price cuts official as of Sept. 5: 60GB $299, Elite $399, Arcade $199

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 3rd 2008 at 5:05PM }

Major Nelson announced that the price cuts for the Xbox 360 we reported on two weeks ago will be official as of Sept. 5. The new prices for the console are:

Xbox 360 Arcade - $199
Xbox 360 60GB - $299
Xbox 360 Elite - $399

This means that the Elite and 60GB received a $50 price drop, while the Arcade received an $80 cut. Now we wait to see if the new prices help boost the Xbox 360's slouching sales.

Tags: breakingnews, microsoft, price-cut, price-drop, xbox-360-arcade, xbox-360-elite

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

FSK405K @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:09PM

Nice...a new price cut every month or two? By Xmas '09 they might be affordable.

Huey2k2 @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:18PM

You can't afford $300?

And you play video games?

You need to find a new hobby.

bigD @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:23PM

If you really can't afford it, just get Gov. Palin to earmark a little for you :P

If those are not affordable than I think you are asking for too much. The cheapest console of this generation is the Arcade above, then the Wii. So I doubt you will see one at a price point you like for a long time.

FSK405K @ Sep 3rd 2008 6:17PM

By affordable, I mean I want to connect four or five of them in the same house. Kind of annoying to attempt at $300 or more per box.

Otimus @ Sep 3rd 2008 6:56PM

"Affordable" is $200 for the "real" version of a system.

That's how it's always been, and the overpriced consoles of this gen (Save for the Wii) is why this gen is such a slum. Well, one of the reasons.

There

1) Should have only been SKU for everyone
2) The PS3 and 360 both should have launched at $300, and the 360 should have hit $250 a year or so after launch, and should only now be hitting $200. The PS3 would also have to follow a similiar time scale.
3) With those things, we'd have ended up with more variety in games, more actual variations of gamers gaming, and a faster adoption of consoles in the next gen. Instead, what we have now is massively devided bases, a ton of people sticking with the old systems, and a decently high amount, but not NEARLY as high as last gen, people going with the current gen

Gewurztraminer says: R.O.B. is the last Cylon! @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:23PM

After zero interest in Microsoft's consoles since the first XBox I suddenly find myself wondering if I should go for the Arcade + a Hard Drive or go straight for the 60G.

hm. odd.

Wise Guy @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:39PM

@ Otimus

Are you kidding? In an ideal world that would be nice... but you can't have it both ways. New technology costs lots of money. These consoles (aside from wii) were already losing money out of the gate. How are you suggesting such cheap prices. Price is not ALL about the consumer.. companies have to make money as well in order to fund better hardware down the line. That's like asking for a lamborghini for under $15,000. Good luck with that logic.

The Fuzz 53 @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:10PM

Now, do I still buy a Linksys Media Center extender like I planned for my basement TV, or go ahead and get a 60GB Xbox, transfer all my data off my 20GB drive, and put that in the basement as a media center extender?

343 Guilty Fart @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:13PM

Yes.

DangerMouse @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:24PM

Agreed. That one.

jsn @ Sep 3rd 2008 6:13PM

I wouldn't get any other extender, not when you can get a 360 for $199. That's what I was planning on doing before I decided to go with SageTV. Being able to use an old laptop as an extender is hard to touch. It's also nice having a company that works to keep up with the times, unlike MS with media center.

And if you do some searching you can find out how to copy your HD and retain all the data on the old one. It's not that difficult if you're somewhat technically inclinded and patient.

Courtney @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:07PM

I'm certainly thinking about a second one now, though I would probably just go with an Arcade. I always end up with some BB gift cards at Christmas...hmmmm...

Ridgecity @ Sep 4th 2008 12:15PM

There's one called popcorn or something like that. It' way better that the linksys and you can easily change the hard drive with a little door on back.

philmcphail @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:16PM

Finally! Microsoft is moving into Nintendo's territory. Then again, it makes you wonder, will this provoke Nintendo to dropping the Wii's Price? (cuz hen it will be IMPOSSIBLE to get!)

Dirty @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:18PM

Hope they sell the 60 separately. Or just drop the prices on their ridiculously priced hard drives. That would be nice. I mean the 120 drive is about the price of the whole system now.

dabamf @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:24PM

I think the hard drive pricing needs to be resolved pronto, especially if MS wants to promote all of the downloadable titles that they now offer.

philmcphail @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:24PM

LOL Yeah, I mean they can do another price drop but cannot lower the price of the damn harddrives?!!?!?

mirage @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:35PM

That is my question too. As much as I love my 360, I am tired of early adopters getting screwed. Hook me up with a discounted 60 GB or 120 GB because I am NOT paying the same price for a HD as I would for a Wii or an Arcade 360.

Obie @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:40PM

+1 Agreed 100%, why the hell does the 120GB cost almost as much as the hardware itself? Freakin' retarded!

Deezul @ Sep 3rd 2008 10:41PM

One Target near me had the 20GB on "clearance" for $70. If it dropped to $50, I'd just assume save the $50 from the 60GB one, get the Arcade and memory card, and put this one in the bedroom as the 3rd 360.

MC Double Def DP @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:20PM

$199 price tag will look a lot better to xmas shopping parents who don't follow which consoles have harddrives, little kids who can't wait to save up more money for more feature rich systems and to those who just want another 360 for video streaming & occasional gaming for their other TV sets.

Zeus.:God @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:20PM

Just the thing for me to buy a new Xbox- gonna' get teh 1337... Next thing after that is a PS3.

Duke @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:27PM

What's this "1337" you speak of. I'm surely not elite enough to understand. Damn, you are so cool!

Dirty @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:47PM

Are shortly after duke was struck by "teh lighnings!"

Dirty @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:58PM

I dont know where that "are" came from... should have read

Shortly after Duke was struck by "teh lighnings"

brickwalker0 @ Sep 3rd 2008 6:06PM

PS3 should be first. :(

Zeus.:God @ Sep 3rd 2008 10:04PM

WOAH! How did I get ranked low?

I said I was going to get the Elite and next up the PS3. Sorry, but I have games for the 360 from my last one- it takes precidence... Jesus...

Brucie B @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:22PM

Well now might be the time to upgrade to the elite since my refurb just took a dump this monday.

MOT @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:22PM

So now is the time to buy a 360. I'm just not sure if I should get the 60 gig or the 120 one.

Haggard @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:28PM

I don't understand how the elite is twice the price. All it has is a bigger hard drive and a couple of extra A/V features?

*correct me if wrong, I know nothing about 360's*

Vidikron (FU) @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:39PM

It also has a headset and... it's black!

Actually, it doesn't even really have any extra AV features. All the systems in store now have HDMI output, but the bigher end systems come swith more cables. Really, the pricing is rather absurd. It's all based around their ridiculous pricing for the hard drives.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/compare101.htm?WT.svl=nav

dabamf @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:40PM

According to Amazon you get a headset, w00t! All kidding aside, the hard drive alone sells for $150...I think that's where most of the money goes.

dabamf @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:44PM

@Vidikron

1 minute faster than me with the joke...+1 well done.

Vcize @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:45PM

The 60gb comes with a headset too, doesn't it (the 20gb did)?

I think it's just the hard drive and the black color. I think it might come with a play and charge kit too, not sure on that one though.

Jakka(Naked Peach Brigade) @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:47PM

"The 60gb comes with a headset too, doesn't it (the 20gb did)?"

But is it black? Exactly.

Vol @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:29PM

Arcade model: $199
120 GB hard drive: $179

< rolls eyes >

Come on MS... lower the HD price points.

343 Guilty Fart @ Sep 3rd 2008 6:33PM

And the price of the wireless adapter, I'll give you $20.

Wah-hah-ha! @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:39PM

loss-based hardware strategy means you have to find something to gouge

But its par for the course for manufacturers

Kidicon @ Sep 3rd 2008 8:18PM

Don't forget the 50 bucks for xbox live gold. Cause lets face it, does anyone really use silver accounts?

DudeRed @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:31PM

Its not so bad though, the kit shipped pretty quickly and I got it within a week. You just have to keep using your old 20GB HDD for one more week.

I mean come-on...do you really need the 120GB drive the very minute you upgrade?

tacticknight @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:31PM

I feel kind of stiffed at this, personally.

It was such a big deal during E3 for their price drop of the 20 GB model (and introduction of the 60 GB model) - to which they said wasn't intentionally being phased out as a sale like some of the PS3 models - that this seems both annoying and unfair. I went out and purchased the 20 GB model shortly after E3, and now, I'm stiffed out of 40 GB of extra space for the same price that I payed for 20.

If Microsoft wasn't a business first-off, I would personally feel that they should compensate the loyal customers that believed what they said at E3 and went out and purchased the reduced price 20 GB SKU.

tacticknight @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:34PM

(Of course, on the other hand, people (like myself) that have waited this long to buy a 360 aren't exactly the most loyal members of the fanbase... (otherwise, we would have bought a 360 sooner))

mirage @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:42PM

No, the loyal fanbase gets screwed even worse because we paid $399 for the Pro system with 20 GB and no HDMI. Now they cut the prices, add HDMI and an additional 40 GB all the while still charging an arm and a leg for a HD by itself. This makes me more and more angry every time I think about it! Oh well, I guess I will just go and see what is new on the Marketplace to download. Oh shit! I forgot I only have 250 MB of space left on there. That sucks.

PeterF @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:47PM

How did you NOT see this coming?

totoro @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:37PM

So much for making "really good progress on that cost curve."
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/137377.asp?source=rss

F1 @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:45PM

This may actually end the argument around my school that the only reason the Nintendo outsells the 360 is because of its price.
But then again it could validate it to...

jsn @ Sep 3rd 2008 6:17PM

if you split the demographics up on the Wii, it will probably even out. The Wii sells so many units to people who buy it, play Wiisports and maybe 1-2 other games and then forget about it. Those people aren't really going to be interested in the 360, regardless of price. Kids who play games and got stuck with the Wii because of the price, now those are the ones that will now have a real shot at getting a 360.