Rumor: Walmart catalog lists $100 price cut for Xbox 360 Elite

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 22nd 2009 at 11:00AM }

Oh, man. This ish just got real, son. Last week, a supposedly leaked Meijer's catalog revealed a $100 price cut for the Xbox 360 Elite SKU -- we weren't sure what to make of it, but a recent Walmart catalog (due to hit stores on August 30) revealing the same exact discount adds a hefty amount of credence to rumors that Microsoft is dropping the price on the console's 120GB SKU. You can see the full ad posted after the jump, courtesy of one of our readers (thanks, Patrick). A few sites have gotten the ad, presumably from different sources, leading us to believe it's not just a high-quality fake.

If it is legitimate -- and the rumors of an Elite price cut end up being true -- then the flames of console war are likely ready to flare up once again. For the first time this console generation, Sony and Microsoft would have two SKUs available at the same price. The resulting struggle for market dominance would be brutal.

Tags: catalog, discount, elite, microsoft, price-cut, sale, walmart, xbox-360-elite

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

ThatPCgameryouhate @ Aug 22nd 2009 11:01AM

So... now we know it's undoubtedly true?

whylekat @ Aug 22nd 2009 11:18AM

In all honesty, Microsoft would be fools not to drop the price when the PS3 Slim releases.. They pretty much have to if they want to stay in close competition. The xbox360 has more or less ALWAYS been cheaper then the PS3 and that's gotta be a major selling point these past few years.

I wanna see the Arcade go down to $200 and become the cheapest console on the market! That fact alone would definetly generate some sales, gaurenteed.

ThatPCgameryouhate @ Aug 22nd 2009 11:22AM

http://videogames.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?r=1&EAN=2000003487882&ourl=Video-game%2FMicrosoft-Xbox-360-Arcade

It is at 200$
EVEN BARNES AND NOBLE SAYS SO :O!!!!!!

Dan_C @ Aug 22nd 2009 11:40AM

The arcade has been at $200 for a while. My launch 360 finally RROD the other day and I picked up an arcade for $180 at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Arcade/dp/B0029MAXS6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1250955516&sr=8-1

whylekat @ Aug 22nd 2009 11:43AM

Well don't I feel foolish!

Thanks fellas I had no idea it was so cheap. Haven't checked prices In a good long while.

Wiizer ($299) Having BC On Your Launch Console? (Priceless) @ Aug 22nd 2009 11:44AM

^ And this is why people accuse Microsoft of having inflated sale numbers.

Just sayin'.

Contract Killer for Hire (Will work for PS3 Exclusives) PSN: Manifest37 @ Aug 22nd 2009 1:23PM

Those ads should include a power brick if they wanna show everything off!

I know it's 2009, but I still can't fathom why someone would blow cash like this. Imagine: Instead of buying the same system again, you could've had 3 new games (minimum), 5 max!!

But w/e. Live & Learn.

Levi @ Aug 22nd 2009 2:22PM

I just can't believe there are people who claim that the 360 was the cheaper console, and then talk about how they had to buy another one later cause theirs broke. That doesn't sound very cheap to me...

Ordeith @ Aug 22nd 2009 2:30PM

saw this on another forum, though it applies here :)

"If the RROD fiasco proved one thing, it was that the overall experience is so superior to the PS3 that people are willing to tolerate the certainty of hardware failure just to game on the XBOX. If that didn't kill the 360, does a C-note two years in to the product cycle really stand any chance whatsoever? I don't think so."

Contract Killer for Hire (Will work for PS3 Exclusives) PSN: Manifest37 @ Aug 22nd 2009 2:48PM

Well I am glad that Sony has been playing catch-up with the 360.
If it weren't for competition, the PSN wouldn't be as good as it is now... or as good as it will be. Firmware 3.0!

Ashitaka @ Aug 22nd 2009 3:41PM

"The xbox360 has more or less ALWAYS been cheaper then the PS3 and that's gotta be a major selling point these past few years."

The -only- major selling point aha

Wiizer ($299) Having BC On Your Launch Console? (Priceless) @ Aug 22nd 2009 6:10PM

@ Ordeith

I think it's sad that ANYONE would see that as a positive thing for the 360.

Now THAT is Nazi Fandboyism right there.

atrimus @ Aug 22nd 2009 6:17PM

@Ordeith

conversely, the PS3 must be the better system, having managed to sell neck and neck with the 360 since it launched, despite being at a severe price disadvantage most of that time. can you imagine how much more it'll sell without the price disadvantage?

and before anyone chimes in, there are other markets besides the US.

SimbaDogg @ Aug 22nd 2009 6:50PM

logically...i dont expect this to really make a huge uptick in 360 sales. basically the same console but w/ double the HD space and in black. But then again, a lot of things about 360 diehards are nonsensical to me.

What Wiizer and Contract Killer said are perfect examples.

ThatPCgameryouhate @ Aug 22nd 2009 9:52PM

"logically...i dont expect this to really make a huge uptick in 360 sales. basically the same console but w/ double the HD space and in black. But then again, a lot of things about 360 diehards are nonsensical to me."

You just basically talked yourself into a corner. You promote the PS3 for selling so well, but insult the 360 for having a price drop? So, only if the PS3 has a price drop will it sell. That makes sense.

Rhamsey @ Aug 22nd 2009 11:04AM

Well, it does say that quantities are limited, but most likely they are trying to sell all of their 360's before the official price drop happens.

DeepFriedSushi @ Aug 22nd 2009 3:50PM

ppl are speculating a new sku. but because they just changed the box recently i doubt it. plus microsoft has pretty loose lips when it comes to any secret plans and nothing has come up.

i'd like to see the arcade be removed and replaced with the pro and just rename it to xbox 360. two models to confuse the consumers less but it will most likely be arcade and elite to stay while the pro is phased out, which is already apparent on newer boxes.

as for the quantities are limited i'm guessing is because there are just a few consoles per store and at $299 i guess they think it will be selling out quickly (i'm guessing they didnt know before hand that ps3 was getting a new model)

Jarvis Slacks @ Aug 22nd 2009 11:05AM

Not only are they the same price, but they are close to the same specs. Him. I wonder which is Mel Gibson, and which is the weird big, monster type dude. (Thunderdome reference).

commen-cents @ Aug 22nd 2009 11:31AM

not really... ps3 has blu ray, free online, wireless, and rechargeable controllers(which seems to be an oversight in most arguments).

i think the only thing the 360 has up on the ps3 is a free headset.

PN04 @ Aug 22nd 2009 11:58AM

Hoesntly it doesnt even have that if you ever bought a bluetooth headset for your cellphone, you can just use that an never even HAVE to buy a new one.

Enon777 @ Aug 22nd 2009 12:14PM

Agreed 100%. Why are people saying the Arcade being $200 is a good price? You still have to get a HD. Also if you don't wanna spend a fortune on batteries, you have to purchase the rechargeable controller paks. Another would be the wireless adapter if needed and paying for xbox live. Even if MS drops their console prices, PS3 gives you more bang for your buck.

Spartacus @ Aug 22nd 2009 1:20PM

It depends how you look at it. I own both, but here's my take:

Blu ray: Advantage PS3 (imo, the only major advantage)

Online gaming: Tie. PS3 is free, 360 is superior

Controller: Advantage 360. True, they don't come with rechargeable batteries, but they accept AA, which most people have in rechargeable form. The 360 gives you options for batteries, the PS3 does not. You have to charge the PS3 controllers via a USB cable (not too handy) and the batteries are not replaceable, meaning when they eventually die, you have to buy a brand new $60 controller- which is retarded.

Cables: Advantage 360. PS3 comes only with composite while 360 elites used to come with HDMI, now come standard with component at least.

Headset: Advantage 360. Comes with one, therefor there are tons more gamers online with voice. If you don't like voice, you can mute everyone with the touch of a button.

Game library: Advantage 360. This is obviously a bit subjective, but most non fanboys would agree the quantity and quality of games lie on the 360 side of the scale (just as they did with the PS2 over the Xbox). This is not to say the PS3 doesn't have a good library though.

Overall User Experience: This is purely my opinion, but I enjoy using my 360 much more than my PS3. It's just set up and integrated better. It's more seamless and user friendly.

Killjebus...PSN Killjebus @ Aug 22nd 2009 1:48PM

@sparticus

Killjebus...PSN Killjebus @ Aug 22nd 2009 1:51PM

This elite only comes with composite cables. Look at the picture, just red and white for audio and yellow for video. Component cables have 5 cables, 3 for video and 2 for audio...the elite USED to come with component cables but it never came with HDMI.

Durden @ Aug 22nd 2009 2:03PM

@ Sparticus

Sound: Advantage PS3- Required to have a nice home sound system just to hear over the 360's fans.

Sean @ Aug 22nd 2009 2:05PM

@ Sparticusyou bring up some goodpointsbut i have to disagree.online gaming is a tie but free ps3 isnt te only advantage, itsalso got te built in wifi for easy internet acess in any room. 360 has better match making wth friends, but after a few hours of L4D, GoW and Halo, Im left bored. i think games like R2 step it up with 60 man online ad KZ2 was much faster overall then ive found theothers to be.headset i agree that the inboxheadset is nice but i think blue tooth is better, and its multi purpose. when i played WoW i used to use my ps3 headse for running raids, playing ps3 and usng my cell phone. its a matter of opinion but a small investment fr multiple devices has jut as much value.the game library is def a matter of opinion but i think DD is another story. Th range and selection of what is offered for and within the psns games are usually moreoriginal and willing to use a new and orignal idea, flower or noby noby for example. braid and castle crashers are comingto psn as well which were well regarded xbox exclusives. i am a bit jealous of shadow complex though.fnally the controller is the only other big advantae i feel the ps3 has over the xbox. rechargeale batteries means no investing in batteries which is long term savings but theres also the motion sensor which allows developers to add some nice extras. last week i was over a friends last week playin rockband and all of the instruments died 4 songs in, an easy fix but we were out of batteries we watched a movie instead but it still sucked.personally i fnd the xmb easier to navigate. thats just me but i get stuck using it aot over frends, all the time.

Sean @ Aug 22nd 2009 2:08PM

damn it my ps3 browser scrunched everyting together so my argument looks like trash, sorry!

Sly [Planeteer | Power of Teets & Crumpets] @ Aug 22nd 2009 2:16PM

which brings up the next point. PS3 has a web browser.

also, if this price drop is true, guess who's a new 360 owner?

:D

eNrique @ Aug 22nd 2009 2:23PM

spartacus,

HD Media: Advantage PS3

Online gaming: Tie. PS3 is free, 360 is superior but 50 per year / person (is it really worth it?, IMO it's not)

Controller: Advantage PlayStation 3, DualShock 3, offers more than the 360 controller, rechargable battteries, includes usb cable.

Cables: The same, 360 no longer ships with hd cables.

Headset: PlayStation 3, there thousands of bluetooth headsets to choose from, from prices $5 to $60 and it's wireless, on the other side, 360's headset are wired and the msrp is 19.99 according to amazon, while the wireless is 60 (both are total rip offs).

Game library: By the times, I prefer the PlayStation 3 library and I actually think is better, but I'm going to call a tie.

DLC.- 360, the xbox has some exclusive DLC (or timd exclusive) that is really worth, and a lot PS3 users dream of. No question.

Downloadable games. PlayStation 3, with the recent announcement of braid and castle crashers coming to PSN, the 2 major games of live lost its exclusivity, and this years exclusive line up goes by far to the PS Store.
PSN
Critter Crunch
Mushroom Wars
Trine
Gravity Crash
Dead Nation
PJ Shooter
Under Siege.
Explodemon
Retro/Grade
Fat Princess

Versus

live
Shadow complex
trials hd
splosion man
TMNT
Wireless, PlayStation 3, the ability to stream media from your PC is a big plus for me, specially since my PlayStation 3 isn't next to my PC / router I can stream everything stored on my PC without a problem. 360's wireless adaptor is a rip off, 100 bucks.

Storage, PlayStation 3, with its ability to change the hard drive without having to buy overpriced custom HDD's, it's a no brainer.

User Interface, PlayStation 3, the XMB is still way faster, cleaner and sleekier than its 360's counterpart, and it comes without ads.

Hardware reliability. PlayStation 3, do I need to mention the rrod box's failure rate at +50%?

Overall User Experience: Your call, Mine would be my PlayStation 3, by far.

Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Aug 22nd 2009 3:01PM

eNrique, your downloadable titles is the most biased thing I have ever seen. You missed TONS of PSN games and TONS of XBLA games.

mikeburnfire @ Aug 22nd 2009 3:38PM

Let's just get this down right now.

Controller: Advantage PlayStation 3

Reasoning: Never buying batteries, Sixaxis, and most importantly:
The D-pad isn't junk.

eNrique @ Aug 22nd 2009 3:39PM

I was just mentioning this years recently released, upcoming downloadable games.

meth0dical @ Aug 22nd 2009 3:48PM

@Killjebus,
My Elite came with component cables AND HDMI in the box. This was only a few months ago too.

sc00by_y00 @ Aug 22nd 2009 3:56PM

@spartacus..

1 blu ray advantage obviously ps3.

2. Network XBL vs PSN. I dont own a 360, I really can comment on the major feature differences, only difference I know of that people complain about is cross game voice chat. I know the 360 NXE is littered with adverts and I know it costs money.

PSN its free, what more needs to be said ?
It may not have cross game voice chat (I have a mobile phone and if I want to talk to some1 I use that, I can even leave my house and still be able to talk to them shock horror), It has home which was fun when it had voice chat and nearly all sony exclusives are server / client based instead of peer 2 peer (p2p).

If you dont know about networking let me explain this so you can understand.

Nearly all multiplayer games on the PC are client/server based, you connect to a specific server sitting in europe or america for example and that central server handles all of the connections the mappings and you all play according to your relative ping, which makes everything much more even. This server usually sits in a data center and has a super fast connection to the internet. This is almost always expensive if its done by a publisher and/or games developer. Usually the game developers release the server code and people with the connection host the server usually, which means no cost for the publisher and/or developer.

Battlefield 1943 uses this layout it had issues because EA would have had to set up a massive server farm to handle all of the connections, this is why they were plagued with issues. I dont think it was a bandwidth issue, but rather just a connection handling issue which means they didnt have enough servers to handle the connections.

KillZone 2 is client / server based, which means there is a massive farm of ps3's or pcs handling all connections.. Lag is relatively unheard of the game plays smooth because of this it also allows for better region mapping.

WarHawk is client/server based, take a look around the net and you will see the server farm of ps3 handling the connections again lag in warhawk near unheard of.

Resistance 1&2 again client/server based massive farm of servers handling connections..

Socom should be client /server based as well.. I cant see MAG being handled any other way than client/server based, maybe they have worked some magic and got it working on a p2p basis, but I highly doubt it the processing required to map 256 players on a games map will be huge.

Sony has kept the network free even despite the fact that the cost of running these servers farms are immense, think about that for a minute. In fact we shouldn't be paying for the connection, it should be the publishers of the game. You pay for the game you buy it, you shouldn't be charged to play it on-line, that burden shouldn't be with us, it should lie squarely at the feet of the greedy publishers.

Peer2Peer:

p2p is basically the same technology as kazzaa or bittorrent, its great in that it shares load for the connection. The developers / publishers don't need to have a centralised server farm. They offload the processing and the mapping to a deligated host which is some one playing the game and then offload the mapping etc I think to each user which is shared and constantly updated (I think this is the full workings of it)

It has advantaged, its cheap for the publisher & it should scale brilliantly as long as everyone playing has a stable connection, for example on a Lan p2p would probably be the best technology to use.

You will know when you play on a p2p game, because well to be frank its shit and greedy publishers love it because its cheap. Its shit because in the real world connections fluctuate a lot and you are ultimately connected to 1 delegated host that has the better connection, as soon as that hosts connection starts playing up everyone is screwed thats playing because it distributes if you have a couple of shit ping users within the match it generally degrades quality for everyone.

A perfect examples of p2p is Call of Duty 4 & 5 they perfectly demonstrate this, play on an 18 player match and watch it become seriously laggy it suffers from a lot of issues, I am sure most regular cod players can list the faults with it, its generally unstable and its unstable because its p2p..

I really don't know how the Microsoft network is set up, I know that cod 4/5 is the same on both the ps3 and 360 in terms of networking (activision the greediest smuggest publisher, of course it will use p2p). I have a sneaky suspicion Microsoft run a lot more stuff using p2p and you have to pay for it and its littered with adverts. With all of this said, I will accept them to be even because they both work well.

3. Controller. Your argument falls completely flat here The ps3 Dualshock3 (ds3) has the blatent advantage.

The DS3 is rechargable, look up digital cameras, which is more expensive digital cameras that use Li-on rechargeable batteries or AA ?

The battery will literally last a good 5-10 years probably longer than the controller itself from wear.

If the charge runs out you only need to get a mini usb - usb cable and can charge the controller and play games while its charging.. Do that with your rechargeable batteries, you know your screwed if the batteries die.

Also you can replace the battery:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/ps3-sixaxis-controllers-battery-is-kinda-replaceable-214144.php

and Sony will replace a ds3 if the batteries die, this is where your argument falls flat on its face.. Lets also not forget it has six axis motion controls.

4. Cables advantage neither they both supply the same composite and the price of hdmi cables is negligable, this is the stupidest point to raise..

5. Network adaptor The PS3 is the clear winner Gigabit ethernet as standard and also wifi(802.11g) as standard the 360 only has 100M ethernet and has no wifi as standard. Mine also came supplied with Cat6 ethernet cable which is a very nice touch.

6. Headset, I will give the advantage to the 360 because it comes bundled with one, but the clear winner in terms of technology is the PS3 (bluetooth headset sorry clear winner) also if you buy the ps3 eye the mic on that is superb it filters out voice from a crowded room (read up about it, Natal will have something similar)

7.Game Library advantage neither.. They are both about tied. I am sorry but the ps3 has more exclusives than the 360 and the 360 has slightly better performance in some multiplats so no clear winner.

Overall user experience I dont have a 360 so cant comment on its user performance, but come back to me when you can use it to play bluray films or record live tv (playtv) or have a service comparable to vidzone. Or have something as good as the playstation eye or be able to plug in a usb drive and play films directly from the usb drive the list goes on and on.. The ps3 is easily the winner in terms of functionality , audio quality is far superior as well (Sony builds hifi's & tvs what do you expect ? ) Oh yes lets also not forget that the 360 has had the highest failure rate of practically any electrical device released, definitely of any games console released so far.

DeepFriedSushi @ Aug 22nd 2009 4:24PM

@scooby you're joking right

kz2 has some of the worst lag i've experienced in a fps. i played the game on a fios connection and no matter what server i play on you will commonly kill someone at the same time someone kills you. and many instances you will shoot someone in their face for a good second till it registers as a kill. or revive a team member there is a delay. even games which dont have dedicated servers like cod have better netplay that kz2. its a good looking game but gameplay its a mess and if you cant admit that i feel bad for you.

client side lag will never be apparent when you're moving around thats not how netcode works anymore. its when you interact with other users where the lag becomes instantly clear.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 22nd 2009 4:26PM

Spartacus:
Elite comes only with a composite cable now, not component. And the PS3 has an optical audio out, the Elite doesn't, if you need optical audio on 360, you need an adapter on the Elite to get it. Cable advantage: PS3

You also forgot that for people who use WiFi, the PS3 has it built-in and it's extra on 360. Another advantage PS3.

Sly [Planeteer | Power of Teets & Crumpets] @ Aug 22nd 2009 5:08PM

"@scooby you're joking right

kz2 has some of the worst lag i've experienced in a fps. i played the game on a fios connection and no matter what server i play on you will commonly kill someone at the same time someone kills you. and many instances you will shoot someone in their face for a good second till it registers as a kill. or revive a team member there is a delay. even games which dont have dedicated servers like cod have better netplay that kz2. its a good looking game but gameplay its a mess and if you cant admit that i feel bad for you."

YOU'RE joking right? my connection is standard cable over wi-fi (fios wired is much better) and i've never lagged in killzone 2 EVER. and the killing at the same time is part of the game. everyone is a bullet sponge, so by the time you actually kill someone, chances are they've killed you too.

Ordeith @ Aug 22nd 2009 5:23PM

Controllers: The 360 controller can be used on the PC and works well in all Games for Windows Live titles.

Does pretty well in other titles too but all the GFW titles inculde profiles specifically for the 360 controller.