AfterDawn: News

Europe finally gets 360 price drop

Following hot on the heels of the U.S. price drop, Microsoft has officially announced the much anticipated European price drop for their Xbox 360. The consoles will drop in price by 50 euros to 349.99 euros, similar to that of the U.s. price drop. Microsoft said in a statement that the lower price for the Xbox 360 for the Premium 20Gb model will be effective August 24th. In addition, the Elite system featuring the 120Gb hard drive and a few other high-definition features will be launched to the tune of 499.99 euros. The unit of which few actually want, the Core which has no hard drive will be cut by 20 euros to 279.99 euros.

These price cuts come just in time to help give Microsoft the much needed edge before the holiday season. With the announcement of the PS3 price drop and the onslaught of sales for the cheaper Nintendo Wii, Microsoft had to do something to gain some exposure for the 2 year old system. Microsoft hopes the price point will help also expand their market beyond its core fan base consisting mostly of young men.



Statistics recorded at the end of June put Microsoft at 5.6 million Xbox 360s sold in the U.S., compared to the 2.8 million Wiis and 1.4 million PS3s. This figure includes the one year head start Microsoft had over the other two competitors.

Microsoft is said to have not yet turned a profit on the Xbox business since it was initially launched in 2001. Its hopes of challenging Sony's dominance in consumer's entertainment centers has been a bold task in which they've seen little return.

Source:
Reuters

Written by: Dave Horvath @ 20 Aug 2007 9:00

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• 18 comments

• ZippyDSM

  ya but 50 euros is nearly 100USD!

  20.8.2007 09:03 #1

• ville30

  Originally posted by ZIppyDSM: ya but 50 euros is nearly 100USD!Too bad for US and A.

  20.8.2007 09:11 #2

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Originally posted by ZIppyDSM: ya but 50 euros is nearly 100USD!Too bad for US and A.:P
  merely saying good for them they need it to go down another 25eu :P
  
  349 eu is 470 USD 0-o

  20.8.2007 09:21 #3

• Riotard

  It was cheaper in USA anyway, um whats the rpice drops for the UK in translation to this then?

  20.8.2007 09:42 #4

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Riotard: It was cheaper in USA anyway, um whats the rpice drops for the UK in translation to this then?about the same
  50EU=67USD
  20EU=26USD
  
  of coarse tis still higher in the UK by 100USD or more.
  
  guess I was thinking in pounds 50=almost 100 LOL
  
  edit:
  ack srroy,my mind goes Europe=UK ><

  20.8.2007 09:48 #5

• narmo

  this money thing is confusing lol

  20.8.2007 12:33 #6

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by narmo: this money thing is confusing lol
  it gets worse in some aeras the PS3 is 900USD and the 360 is closer to 600. 0-o

  20.8.2007 13:12 #7

• hughjars

  This is good news for prospective XBox 360 buyers.
  
  Also, expect a big push on the XBox 360 HD DVD add-on very soon which, along with the news that Paramount are ditching Blu-ray and going HD DVD exclusive, is all surprisingly good news for the HD DVD.
  
  Quote:Aug. 20, 2007 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) --
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) - Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (NYSE:DWA) will offer next-generation DVDs in the HD DVD format and drop support for Blu-ray, further complicating the race between the competing technologies.http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/arti...13-19015486.htm

  20.8.2007 13:37 #8

• ZippyDSM

  hughjars
  
  Do you think MS will start doing something about the core or let it fade into the past and let devs make games that require the HDD,its goign to be a issue in the year to come with games getting bigger lil by lil.
  
  I see that as one of the major issues facing the 360 in the future,the thing with PGR is a glimpse of whats to come in 15-20+ months.
  
  I think MS should spam out 50$ 20GB HDD kits and let devs make what they can for the 360 since multi discs games seem to be not a option for because of live.

  20.8.2007 14:21 #9

• hughjars

  I expect the core to die (it's already - by a mile - the least best selling 360 sku anyways).
  
  I also think you're right, I expect they'll do a deal for a while where the 20gb drive is practically given away (maybe they'll use a little imagination & bundle it with some other goodie for a limited period?) for those without one so as to ensure they don't catch a wave of trumped up bad publicity (cos after-all in truth there are so relatively few core models out there).
  That would make a lot of sense to me anyways.

  20.8.2007 16:12 #10

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by hughjars: I expect the core to die (it's already - by a mile - the least best selling 360 sku anyways).
  
  I also think you're right, I expect they'll do a deal for a while where the 20gb drive is practically given away (maybe they'll use a little imagination & bundle it with some other goodie for a limited period?) for those without one so as to ensure they don't catch a wave of trumped up bad publicity (cos after-all in truth there are so relatively few core models out there).
  That would make a lot of sense to me anyways.
  No but theres enough of the core units out there to give them no end of grief over not "supporting" them kinda a shame the 360 didn't go with a solid 350 launch of 20GB units then again MS has took a interesting upgrade revision apporch with the 360,its not bad its not great could have been better done at least we didn't get a 500$+ 360 at launch LOL.
  
  
  the PS3 is is running around in circles so much I need to stop chasing info to stop the voices in my head from spinning 0-o

  20.8.2007 16:19 #11

• Unfocused

  If they really wanted to push sales, they should sell these units at just above cost for a week or so.

  20.8.2007 16:54 #12

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Unfocused: If they really wanted to push sales, they should sell these units at just above cost for a week or so.you mean below the 360 is still 400-700 a unit.
  
  but at this time pushing sales would only spike RMAs :P

  20.8.2007 16:59 #13

• DXR88

  Mwhahaha. microsoft starting the ungodly cosumer fire yet again good to see that amazing price drop. just to bad i puchased mine when it first came out no problims with the unit itself. dont fade core units zippy. core units are better built than the ones with the hdd.
  might seem odd but i did some research on it the ones that failed the most had came in a bundle. like i said odd.

  20.8.2007 17:08 #14

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by DXR88: Mwhahaha. microsoft starting the ungodly cosumer fire yet again good to see that amazing price drop. just to bad i puchased mine when it first came out no problims with the unit itself. dont fade core units zippy. core units are better built than the ones with the hdd.
  might seem odd but i did some research on it the ones that failed the most had came in a bundle. like i said odd.the HDD is a lil removable outside case...thus...its the same as the core unit.
  
  And ya they are fazing out the core units hell best buy is dropping them,its a good thing to the core units were a bad idea to start with.
  
  Now the only question for the 360 besides when will the 64nm units show up, is when will they release a HDD kit/bundle cheap to get the core units a HDD so devs wont have to waste time and money making work on the core,plus they can even expand games a by using the HDD.
  
  DOnt get me wrong this is the same reason why the PS3 is having issues its hell to core for but thats its main obstacle (besides unit price) while the 360 is easy to code for the HDD issue with games growing is a concern, if not dealt with the games will start suffering,just how many "half games" like PGR can the 360 take before to much damage is done?

  21.8.2007 01:25 #15

• Unfocused

  @Zippy
  
  I meant at Microsoft's costs. If they could sell the unit at their build cost for a short period of time, they could at least build up their user base. They would make up for the profit loss on consoles with games and peripherals.

  22.8.2007 15:58 #16

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Unfocused: @Zippy
  
  I meant at Microsoft's costs. If they could sell the unit at their build cost for a short period of time, they could at least build up their user base. They would make up for the profit loss on consoles with games and peripherals.I dont think now is the time...unless they want to chuck the stock of bad units....
  

  
  
  FIGHT THE M.A.F.I.A.A.
  

  22.8.2007 17:24 #17

• borhan9

  This price drop is expected like the other places.

  22.8.2007 22:10 #18