Rumor: Walmart dropping Xbox 360 4GB Kinect bundle to $249 on Aug. 28 [update]

by Alexander Sliwinski on Aug 25th 2011 9:32AM

The upcoming Walmart circular reveals that the mega-retailer will do a "rollback" on the price of the Xbox 360 4GB Kinect bundle, dropping it to $249 (down $50 from the current price). The flyer we were provided was for the week beginning August 28.

The timing of the price cut could be a reaction to Sony's recent PS3 price snip. Microsoft recently stated it wasn't feeling any pressure to reduce the price of the Xbox 360 in Europe. Meanwhile, in America, the system has performed consistently well in the later years of its life

Update: Microsoft tells Joystiq that "Walmart made an independent decision to implement this temporary price cut." Full statement after the break.

Walmart 4GB Xbox 360 Kinect bundle price reduction ad

Microsoft statement:

"Walmart made an independent decision to implement this temporary price cut. We've made no announcements about price drops, and do not discuss our pricing plans in advance. Xbox is the number-one selling console in the U.S. for 13 of the past 14 months, and is showing record growth. With an incredible line-up of games and entertainment, we're expecting the biggest year in Xbox history as the best-selling console worldwide."

Tags: kinect, microsoft, price-drop, walmart, xbox

Reader Comments (51)

I thought they weren't in a hurry to drop prices?

@Mustang Fanboy They aren't. This is Walmart dropping the price, not Microsoft.

@Mustang Fanboy

First of all that xbox exec was talking about the European region. Secondly, this is a price drop on the Kinect bundle not a price drop across the board. Third we don't know if this is JUST a Walmart promotion YET.

Obviously MS has room to drop the price if they want. But they don't have to rush it in the US were they currently doing very well.

I look for Microsoft and Sony to announce new consoles next at e3

@System Has Failed

You are just as wrong as mustang in assuming one way or another. Walmart rarely drop prices on consoles or their bundles on their own, especially not by 50 dollars. The profit margin is so thin on their video game department a 50 dollar chunk taken off to boost sales is unlikely.

@Mustang Fanboy

Well the first weeks estimate in the US anyway shows that even with a price drop the PS3 still didn't manage to outsell the 360.

Although Sony may have saved themselves the embarasment of having the Kinect installl base larger than the PS3s by the end of the year.

@Ordeith

Not that I doubt you but sources? No, vgcharts of course. Any chance in dividing those number by SKU?

Microsoft Guy: Nope, we're not feeling any pressure to reduce our price. (Whispers under his breath) Because we already did and you don't know it yet.

@A Sandwich lmao

I actually thought the price was already $250 for those... Especially since it only has 4GB HDD space in this day and age.

@foxhound

I thought the same thing.

@foxhound But this looks like it also comes with the Kinect sensor, making it a good deal for those of us wanting to play Sesame Street with the kids...

@foxhound

This has Kinect included though.

Not that I'd buy a 4GB console. You couldn't even install a game on that. Really, what were MS thinking? They could have at least put 20 GB in...

Yeah, I know... They're thinking people will just spend money on the HDD or USB flash keys later.

@foxhound

If I remember, major Canadian retailers had the Kinect 4GB bundle on sale at the beginning of summer for $150 for 2-3 weeks.

@Styli

They were thinking, "There's a sucker born every minute."

@Styli

4GB console plus this Amazon deal:

http://www.amazon.com/250G-Hard-Disk-Drive-Microsoft/dp/B004GX4864/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314293351&sr=8-2

makes for a pretty good solution I think.

@Styli they were thinking about keeping costs down.

You only get the month of xbox live if you are a new user.

@threpac
One free month of X-Box Live GOLD status. If you don't continue paying for Gold, you drop down to Silver - with which you can use everything but Netflix, Hulu+, and online multiplayer. There may be a couple other things I'm missing (maybe ESPN?) but that's about all you're not getting by being a Silver member.

@ytilanigiroon
WAIT WAIT WAIT! you mean to tell me in order to use hulu+ & netflix i have to not only pay for xbox live but also for the the monthly payment for the video service as well...? Ha, keep dreaming. no way in hell id do that.

@Knives Chau

You can't use ANY online service without XBOX Live Gold...you can't download demos.

@(Unverified)

That's false. You can download demos just fine, but Silver members sometimes get them a week later.

@(Unverified)

You CAN download demos and buy games. You can also friend people and send them messages, but that's about it. Everything else from Netflix to online multiplayer is strictly Gold-exclusive.

This is laughable.

@(Unverified)

No, THIS.IS.SPARTA!

@baby sea tuna
Unfortunately, your comment is NOT laughable.

@(Unverified)

Sorry, I try to leave the terrible commenting to you, but I saw an opening and took it.

/regrets nothing

@(Unverified)
THIS is a knife

@swooded

That's a spoon.

@Altairio
There is no spoon.

@Altairio
and this is my penis.
_./ \
_.I I
_.I I
OIIIO

Why is the ring of light orange in that pic?

@Styli a new breed of red ring!

RUN!!!!!

Walmart circulars are printed weeks in advance so I doubt this is in reaction to the PS3 price drop. Probably was already planned to get a jumpstart on the holiday sales season.

@ItsameMatt03

I'm pretty sure that even though the public wasn't aware of a PS3 pricedrop Microsoft's sources knew. Corporate spying is very common.

Still not worth it.

@A Burger

I felt the same way about the ps3 price drop. =)

@A Burger

A comment as unoriginal and derived as the origin of your username.

@pradius
I think we all think they are still too expensive for their age

$249 is still too much for any console that is more than 4 or 5 years old

@eat it

I agree, but at the very least the PS3 basically comes with a Blu-ray player, self charging controller, and free online gaming.

There is nothing about this bundle that draws me in. first I already have a 360, second, as cool as the kinect is, there is absolutely nothing worth it software wise for me. And the way that they're implementing yet on the hardcore games, seems like a complete none factor to me.

I will go ahead and purchase a kinect the moment it becomes a viable alternate control scheme, and I mean fully. Like you can either play the game using kinect only or a controller but not this gimmick of using only one aspect of a 150 dollar peripheral that could be done with a five buck mic.

Until then, your not getting anymore of my money Microsoft.

But...Dance Central 2 is coming!

@Troy Powers

That was supposed to be a reply. Really, Joystiq? In 2011, we still can't delete comments?

Stop it with the damn Kinect bundles.

If people want to play jump around games, they'll buy a Kinect separately.

How about dropping the price on the regular 360?

How prices should be:

Wii: $99
PS3: $150
360 120 GB: $150 (scrap the 4GB model, stop the BS with the expensive HDD)

Bundles with Kinect and what not, could easily reach the $200 price point and be worth it.

They are old. They are too expensive at this point.

4GB console plus this Amazon deal:

http://www.amazon.com/250G-Hard-Disk-Drive-Microsoft/dp/B004GX4864/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314293351&sr=8-2

makes for a pretty good solution I think.

$250 until you get home and play for like a week and realize 4gb is completely worthless and have to drop a bunch more on a new hard drive.

Deals on the non-gimped model, please. Highway robbery on the price of a HDD is complete and utter bullcrap. $250 250GB or give the US the deal Canadians got and I'd be pleased as punch! Then I'll wait for Black Friday and scoop one up in a bigger bundle or with a gift card attached so I can buy Deadly Premonition!

Plus $80-130 once you realize what a sucker you were to buy a 360 with 4GB of storage.

| 1 | 2 |

Rumor: Walmart dropping Xbox 360 4GB Kinect bundle to $249 on Aug. 28 [update]

Walmart 4GB Xbox 360 Kinect bundle price reduction ad

Reader Comments (51)

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 9:45AM Mustang Fanboy said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 10:01AM System Has Failed said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 10:16AM Odog4ever said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 10:20AM Co said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 1:19PM Kimchi Kommando said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 1:28PM Ordeith said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 1:34PM Kimchi Kommando said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 9:46AM A Sandwich said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 10:21AM jwan830 said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 9:50AM foxhound said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 9:54AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 10:04AM nefnet13 said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 10:06AM Styli said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 11:35AM Ballistic H said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 1:25PM Kimchi Kommando said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 1:32PM Ordeith said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 4:57PM Fire Walk With Me said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 9:55AM threpac said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 10:39AM ytilanigiroon said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 11:07AM Knives Chau said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 11:37AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 11:59AM Vidikron said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 12:24PM PointlessPuppies said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 9:57AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 10:25AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 10:46AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 10:53AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 11:01AM swooded said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 12:30PM Altairio said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 1:13PM ProfessorBonkle said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 1:20PM Mr Bundy said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 9:59AM Styli said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 10:11AM MosDeffa said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 10:20AM ItsameMatt03 said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 1:15PM Kimchi Kommando said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 11:14AM A Burger said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 11:47AM pradius said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 12:00PM A Sandwich said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 12:04PM eat it said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 11:26AM eat it said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 1:31PM Kimchi Kommando said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 11:35AM carlos0981 said

Posted: Aug 25th 2011 11:47AM Troy Powers said

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Posted: Aug 25th 2011 12:09PM spin cycle said

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Posted: Aug 25th 2011 1:30PM Ordeith said

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Posted: Aug 25th 2011 8:43PM Jacksons said

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