Rumor: Microsoft cutting Xbox 360 Arcade price to €199 next week

According to a Dutch blog, Microsoft is planning to cut the price of the Xbox 360 to €199. This would make the Xbox 360 €50 cheaper than the Nintendo Wii. Recent rumors were suggesting that Microsoft was planning to cut the price right before the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV, to win more potential buyers.

According to the blog keeper, he has gotten word from a very reliable source close to Microsoft that the Xbox 360 Arcade will see a price cut to €199. This price cut would go in affect as of February 14. Microsoft decided to cut the price after Sony was reporting the PS3 would surpass the Xbox 360 in total sales about late summer 2008 in Europe.

Any plans for a price cut for the Premium and Elite models are highly likely according to the blog. No mention was given about a American price cut, and it seems this price cut is purely intended for Europe.

[Joey Gladstone]

honestly just wondering as the release of Devil May Cry (requiring a HD) is upon us...
....
...
......"The JOEY has Spoken"

[Honeal2g]

are you kidding me ...plz explain how u have come that conslusion how on earth does this game require a hard drive ....why dont u spread ur propaganda in the open zone you dont belong here

[Joey Gladstone]

anyone know if it was Burnout or DMC4 that requires it??? ...
....
..
......."The JOEY has Spoken"

[desolationstorm]

DMC 4 on ps3 installs on hd, no metion of needing hd for 360 version. You do need a hd for full online play in burnout.

[danarc]

It was Burnout's online mode that required a hard drive Joey :D

[Iron Man 2]

It's too bad it doesn't even come with a hard drive,you can thank Microshaft for that...LMFAO!XD

[DarkSniper]

Desperation at it's finest.

$niper

[InYourMom]

desperation is cutting your price in the first year.. Not 3 years into production..

Sony says hello!

[celticlonewolf]

:0

[mighty_douche]

Keep the price, add a HDD.

[Neurotoxin]

That would be more sensible.

Cutting the Arcade/Core will happen in a years time i think as its holding the Microsoft and Game Developers back.

[theoneandonly]

Sorry Sony fanboys but I think Microsoft has more than a few aces up its gun for Europe....

Shadow Harvest is ONLY for the 360 and there's a different PC port coming out too, plus Shadow Harvest is created by one of the top developers in Europe.

Its clear that games like Shadow Harvest, Too Human and Warhound will get very much noticed in Europe. Those thinking these games won't increase 360 sales didn't see the phenomenon of Grand Theft Auto 3 which swept over europe, and that will continue, with the games they got coming.

If you honestly think MS is not going to compete in Europe and isn't readying its big guns, you got another thing coming pretty fast. Europe is the main battleground this generation, and you can bet shipping more 360s all over the continent with a lower price sku was just the first step to throwing 360 sales through the roof in Europe.

Another major step would be Goldeneye on Xbox Arcade, followed by Perfect Dark #2 with unrivaled gameplay.

[DarkSniper]

One thing is for sure, it will sell more than that garbage Perfect Dark Zero.

$niper

[SUPER360RPGWONDER]

Garbage like PD zero which sold over a million copies worldwide, LOL I mean this isnt rocket science!!!!!!!

Come out of your little shell Sony girls, PD Zero didn't suck as much as Killzone sucked or it wouldn't be ahead by a million point five sales!!!!!!!

I predict Killzone 2 flops on its face, while we never see a game as crappy as PD Zero for the whole year!!!!!!! GAME ON!!!!!

[ruibing]

I've heard of the other two titles, but what is shadow harvest?

[celticlonewolf]

How did I get three disagrees on my comment lol it doesnt require a hard drive, the ps3 version does lol heck theres a big thread on this very topic in a nother part of this website lol fanboys

[Bladestar]

What does that tell you about this site?

I got banned for 48 hours the other day because I said Sony's stocks are down... though I showed proof with charts and all... you are lucky they didn't report you and get you banned for a week...

[Bladestar]

There is also a rumor that microsoft is planning to drop the price of all their peripherals... that includes the hard drives... if microsoft price the hard drive for $50 (though you can buy it on ebay for less)...

ohh and yeah.. it's obvious that if this is true.. microsoft will drop the price of the premium and the elite... Thing will get very interesting if these rumors turn out to be true... probably forcing Sony to drop the price of the PS3...

"Microsoft decided to cut the price after Sony was reporting the PS3 would surpass the Xbox 360 in total sales about late summer 2008 in Europe" now, Sony why did you have to open your mouth... didn't you know the competition would do something about it?

[mighty_douche]

$50 for a 20gb HDD? no thanks, especailly when they probably cost M$ about 5 cents.

[travelguy2k]

only going to affect Europe. As Microsoft is no as strong a seller there as it is in the US they need to make it more atractive to prospective buyers. If they do this though i think Sony will follow suit (in Europe only) as it is already higher priced over there than it is here.

[JohnRico]

If it is over then why is Sony still in 3rd place ?

[KILLERAPP]

Because you don’t see the big picture here this year MS is looking bad by next year they will be in third place and Sony in second as simple as that.

[niall77]

or does that only count for sony now?

[InYourMom]

Because the system is in it's third year and it is due a price cut. While Sony cut's their price in the first year, which could be seen as "desperate".

The 360 has managed to keep its launch price longer than any other prior console.

[cmrbe]

Please change your name. Anyways the x360 price was lower than the PS3 only until MS introduce the elite When MS had a SKU more expensive than the PS3's cheapest SKU. MS didn't have to lower their price because it was for the most time last year was 200 less than the PS3 and it had a lot of games. Sony on the other hand had to lower the price of the PS3 because it was out of reach of the ordinay people which show in the first six months sales.

[InYourMom]

MS needs to do this to open the flood gates on the PS3 and make that gap even wider.

You can always add the harddrive to the Arcade SKU whenever you want to take that step. The machine is targeted at the casual gamer who just wants to get into "next-gen" gaming at the cheapest price possible.

[ceedubya9]

But the real buy will be on the premium if they bring it down close to 279. No need to wait until GTA releases. If the price is already there, then people will buy it anyway. Price is Microsoft's main ace right now. They have to use it to their advantage while they still have the time. The longer they wait, the more time they give Sony to gain ground.

[Salvadore]

Cut the price on 1st party peripherals instead.

[ceedubya9]

The main reason I haven't upgraded my HDD is because of the rediculous pricing. 20 gigs fills up fast, and I can't take advantage of all Live has to offer because I refuse to pay almost 200 bucks for 120 gigs. I'm not even going to get into the Wi-fi adapter...

[ThaGeNeCySt]

I understand the concept of the xbox360 arcade and giving it price cuts so it can kind of compete with Nintendo's price of the Wii.... I just wish they could have somehow swallowed the costs of the HDD and added it (but in different space sizes) to every SKU.

[Meus Renaissance]

Considering the "hardcore" reputation the box has, and the lack of family orientated games, I don't understand why they keep pushing the Arcade to this level. It will not compete with the Wii at all.

Drop the price of the Premium and Elite to fight for Europe.

[KILLERAPP]

What is a shame is that the PS3 at 600 dollars beat the 360 with the best gaming line up and I have a 360 is just the truth.

[ceedubya9]

You can't expect company that is fairly new to the market to just come in and completely dominate the previous king of the last few generations. If there had been any other name on that blu-ray console other than "Sony Playstation," it would not have lasted any longer than a year, tops. Initially, the PS3 sold off of brand name alone. The Xbox brand is still making a name for itself. It has caught on in America, and is doing OK in Europe. But Japan just won't accept the console. If the 360 could get at least half the sales in Japan that the PS3 does, the current situation would be quite different.

[cmrbe]

Sony unseated Nin as the console king with its first console the PS1.MS already has the xbox. Too say that people buy the PS3 because it has sony's name on it is kinda insulting to millions of people that bought the PS3 because they know Sony delivers the standard of entertainment they expect and more like they did with the PS1 and PS2.

[paul_war]

Its funny, if thats true then the Arcade will be about £175, whereas the 120gb HDD will be £130!

That HDD really needs to come down in price, I want to get one but not at that price.

[JohnRico]

Hey Dark Idiot what do you call it when Sony lowers its price ? It works both ways not one you idiot. It is also desperation when Sony does it. If I were you I would just shut up & join The Sony Defense Force & leave this site alone & lets not forget you moron that Sony has lowered the PS3s price MORE TIMES then Microsoft lowered the 360s price.

[KILLERAPP]

No gaming console has ever won without Japan and maybe the 360 is wining in the US but by how much 20,000 or 40,000 the gap will close by the end of this year and remember Europe is bigger than the US and even more the 360 is not betting the PS3 as much as the PS3 is beating the 360 in Japan and by the end of the year Sony will be at a par with the 360 in US just like EA said and the analyst. I own all consoles so will enjoy everything but will you.

[Willio]

I know you were heated and replied frantically, but can you please use some periods? its difficult to read run-on sentences with poor facts. Use spell check... the option is there...

In addition, xbox360 is ahead of PS3 by 6 million console hardware sales. On the other hand, the PS3 on a world weekly sales were outselling the xbox360's by 65,000 to 42,000 according to VGchartz. But i think thats only in Europe.

As for both consoles being *desperate and lowering prices.* Honestly, who cares? its better for us all. its not like both MS and Sony are gonna dissapear.

[Gina-get-u]

I would prefer that they just phase out the arcade and price the premium/pro at the arcade's current msrp. That way, they can finally drop the price of the add-on HDDs and allow everybody who got suckered into buying the core/arcade to upgrade on the cheap. Then they should allow devs to require a hard drive for games if they want to.

However, if the Arcade allows them to actually undercut the wii on price, I can see why MS would want to keep it around. The Arcade is is a way for the 360 to hit mass market pricing (below $200) as early as possible. With the way things are going, price may be the most effective competetive advantage MS has left against the PS3.

[Teabag Sony]

How come the PS3 hasn't outsold the 360 yet? I was just wondering because it's 2008 and all of last year all the PS3 boys kept on saying "wait till 2008".

[mighty_douche]

well if im right, its out sold the 360 every week of 2008.

i dont think 4 weeks is really enough time to sell an extra 8 million consoles.

[karlostomy]

Hot damn!
How silly would you be if you bought a wii instead now?

[Teabag Sony]

Dark Sniper is nothing more than a light crap shot who couldn't hit the side of a barn.

[travelguy2k]

allow developers to make HDD mandatory. Thats how they will be able to keep saying "we have the highest accessory attach rate this gen.".
the main reason it higher than anyione else is because they don't include anything, and then they spin it saying "we give you choice." Thans like saying: batteries not included give you the choice of what kind to use.

[Greysturm]

The deals with the outsorce producers of the the components so as to lower prices or if they are gonna bite the bullet in an effort to keep the second market which is key to either their sucess or downfall in the console wars. So far the data this years show the ps3 gaining to much ground in europe for them to be feeling confortable since that is the market that mainly defines who sells more worldwide which since the end of last year it has been on sonys side.

[kewlkat007]

Now there is a smart thinking fella....

This is what it has been all along...MS struggling to make a name for itself while sony have been selling on name/loyalty for the last 6 years, as well as Nintendo for the last 20. tough uphill battle.

Some are right, they should be cutting the price of some of their peripherals.(They are raping gamers fo sho).

A $200 + GT4 bundle xbox 360 would go a long, long way...

[whoelse]

lol, how 'reliable'

[sak500]

Dark sniper the only sniper in the world shooting with desert eagle.

Here's a clip of dark getting trained.

[InYourMom]

That was funny.. +Bubbles

I have a Desert Eagle and they do have some kick, but not enough to smack yourself in the face. She just wasn't ready for it.

[name]

How come when the PS3 drops it's price it's desperate, but no one here has mentioned this about the 360?

[kewlkat007]

In response to "niall77's" comment.. See!!!....it's that simple.

[KILLERAPP]

The PS3 was sold at 600 dollars so of course they will drop the price faster is just simple is not science. And the 360 is been put longer as well if the PS3 and 360 had launch at the same time the PS3 would be wining.

[LaChance]

Come on in 2 years the 360 has price dropped once and only 50 dollars while the PS3 in one year has price dropped twice and 200 dollars.So who is more desparate ? Sony or Microsoft ?
I want sony fans to answer since there are more sony fans in this thread than all the 360 fans on N4G

[Raptors]

Don't bother. This website is finished and should be renamed News for Sony Gamers. The amount of price drops outnumbers the amount the 360 has had and I'm not gonna even start with the amount of system revisions (1.9, 2.0, 2.1 etc). I was reading the other thread about the DMC 4 install to HD for ps3 taking 22 mins and they were still trying to make the 360 look negative somehow. This site is filled with the most ignorance I've ever seen anywhere.

[cmrbe]

with reagrds to price drops.

MS don't need to drop the price more so than Sony because.

1. PS3 was for most part of last year was more exppensive that the x360 even up to now with their most expensive sku as well as their least expensive ones.

2. PS3 sales was dismal in its first few months before the price drops so Sony was intelligent to drop the price unlike the x360.

3. The arcade is low as is and with heaps of games for the x360 compare to the PS3 40 gig.

Here is the thing. With the arcade 120 cheaper than the cheapest PS3 and with all the major games the x360 has. It is more resonable for people to say that MS is desperate in this situation. I on the other hand don't think so. MS wil be doing this as they know how important europe is and that fact that the PS3 is closing in fast.I would say that this is a smart move by MS if true.

[akaFullMetal]

saying that microsoft is being desperate is actually wrong, but they need to keep pace with sony their, so of course they are going to drop the price. But by saying that sony had been desperate with their price drop is wrong too, they needed to sell the ps3 at a more reasonable price, and come on, 600 dollars isnt going to sell like a system that is 250 or 400, so really why are you complaing about a price drop that is affordable so you can get a ps3?? If it is your fanboyism then i feel sorry for you.

[Marriot VP]

it was understood that the next wave of price cuts would be in the 2-4 month of the year after the Christmas price cuts. Since they only cut half of what it should be.

360 Arc. - 280 to 250
360 Pro. - 350 to 320 probably

[gnothe1]

if the PS3 pass the 360 in overall sales this gen buy 2 million systems, does that REALLY make sony the winner!! one thing I know wont happen, there wont be that 120 million PS2 to 24 million xbox 1 userbase gap like it was las gen!!so therefore MS has successfully succeeded in taking away ALOT of sony userbase!! even MS stated early in the 360's life that they dont EXPECT to outsell sony THIS GEN but by the next they EXPECT to beat them. an who knows, with the developer support that MS has gained an the online aspects the system supplies anything can happen!!

[Xbox is the BEST]

drop right + GTA4 the better version
Game Over.

[etownone]

nice...and its about time

put the arcade to $199, and they should cut
the pro to $280
and the elite to $350

makes sense...

IMO, although most say just cut and get rid of the core altogether,
I say cut the pro and elite and just sell the arcade at $199 with that cheap headset and HD cables included. It will be the cheapest alternative to get into the next gen systems.... and sell hard drives separate, like the the 20 gig for $40 and the 120 gig for $100.

I'm a gamer, and I prefer and own a 360, but trying to keep the 360 priced anywhere near the PS3 is a no no. Especially now that blu-ray won and it comes with SIX free bluray movies, motion controller, wireless, blutooth ready, and 40 HDD......all for $399!!!