VP Shane Kim: Xbox 360 Price Cut Planned- No Date Given

Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software maker, plans to cut the price of its Xbox 360 game console to compete with Nintendo Co.'s top-selling Wii.

The Redmond, Washington-based company needs to lower Xbox's $299 to $479 price to increase sales and lure customers who aren't interested in traditional combat and racing video games, Shane Kim, vice president of Microsoft Game Studios, said in an interview. He declined to say when a price cut may be announced. It won't happen at this week's E3 games conference, he said.

''We need to compete effectively for that customer and part of that is getting to the mass market price point for the console,'' said Kim. ''We definitely are working on that area.''

[BIadestarX]

"The Redmond, Washington-based company needs to lower Xbox's $299 to $479 price" ehhh?

[FordGTGuy]

They need to decrease the price of the Core to the Elite aka the($299 model to the $479.99 model)

[Odion]

cool good to hear about this, on that note is anyone else getting the viva pinata party game? TO me it looks like a ton of fun and i may pick it up!

[DrRage77]

yeah i think i will get teh viva pinata game for sure...it will be another game my wife will enjoy playing. i loved the mario party games on nintendo, so this should be that type of game, although i'm sure it will be a bit different....and if they make it online capable, that will be a great attraction to a lot of buyers

[predator]

yeah loved the first and wen i saw the trailer i was p!ssin my self laughing

[Imknow1]

If they do make an announcement, it will be in their XO7 convention.

[fjtorres]

Did Kim just Osborne the 360?
Announcing a price cut without announcing the date is basically telling would-be buyers: "Don't buy. Wait."
Not wise, Mr Kim.

The price cut now has to be announced sooner rather than later.
Friday?

[solidt12]

I agree with fjtorres . They better announce the cut today or see the sales numbers drop.

[DrRage77]

yeah what is he thinking? right when you say that you have planned a price cut, or indicate anything remote to a confirmation of a price drop coming, people are going to hold off on buying a console.

i think that they were anticipating origially dropping the price of the 360 after Halo3 was released, since that game alone will move a lot of console sales, but now they might be forced to do it earlier, or risk seeing current sales sink lower than they originally would have.

funny thing is that people might have actually gone out and bought more consoles after all the great games announced that are being released this year for the 360, but with this news of Kim CONFIRMING that there is going to be a price drop, he might have just halted a lot of people from going to the store soon to get a 360....

[FFVIIFan]

They really shoulda taken the oportunity to announce a price drop at E3.

[rusgreim]

$50 on about September 1, 2007. Thats my call. H3 will help push 360 sales through the roof.

[DrRage77]

your idea seems pretty good, but i think microsoft would be better off giving a $50 price cut now, and then a $50 price cut AFTER Halo3 is released...we all know Halo3 will sell tons of consoles, so microsoft really doesn't have to do anything to sell then when that game comes out, but if they were planning on cutting the price by $100, then a $50 cut now and one after Halo3 (and before GTA4) would really be the best situation for them

[cdzie1]

Cut the price now and reep the rewards on software sales for years to come.

or

Don't cut the price now, make a few extra bucks today, but let Sony get right back into this thing.

I just don't get it...

[G_CodeMonkey]

That's my thoughts -- just like the Gillette razor--sell them the razor, make a ton off the blades later.. Besides, a core system at or slightly below a Wii would place some great pressure on consumers. The other systems would deflate Sony's wind of theirs. If they don't, then Sony should be throwing a party at the missed opportunity. gCM

[cdzie1]

Price Cut Planned- No Date Given???

OK, why would you say that? Who's going to rush out to buy one now? Once you mention a price cut, do it! I swear, what is up with Microsoft? Are they trying to lose this console war?

[okcomputer]

What kind of idiots announce a definite price cut "in the near future". You may as well post a huge announcement saying "anyone who wants to buy a 360 now, don't".

[DrRage77]

i am going to have to rip on Kim for this, especailly since i would be ripping on any sony exec if they said the same thing. this is one of those things that microsoft is now going to get ripped for if a price cut does not come soon....way to put unnecessary pressure on your own company, as if the faulty consoles wasn't enough, now we have kim basically telling people to stop buying 360's because the price might be going down in the near future lol

peter moore has probably already pulled kim aside, slapped him upside the head, and said "what the **** is wrong with you???"

i guess neither sony nor microsoft have done that well with pr this year lol

[aiphanes]

First of all a sorry E3 showing......and then no price cut?

2.5 million plus defective Xbox 360s....

A ugly ass green Xbox 360 Halo 3...(At least it has HDMI!)

A pink Xbox 360 controller?

A broke ass demo of assasins creed on the xbox 360..

The Xbox 360 has been out there almost 2 years, why no price cut?
$50 would be all they would need to do...

Why does microsoft want to lose?

Sony can now afford to bring back the 20 GB PS3 and price it at $399....then drop the price of the PS3 by $50 more at anytime the Xbox 360 drops it price...

[lVlemphizStylez]

When 360 drops its price and the Falcon hits I'll be picking one up with Halo 3...I just hope the Falcon is what they say it will be...you know...Reliable...

[0ldb0y]

I guess the Pachter was wrong.

I'm guessing a price cut near the release of Halo 3...

[Bill Gates]

This is all playing out like a great boxing match where the underdog comes back to humiliate it's opponent.....HAHHAAHAHHHAHHAHH AHHAHAH

@Blackman...Bro, open your eyes. M$ will NEVER see a profit from their gaming division. They have sealed their reputaion in the industry with the RROD.

[kevoncox]

Lol Never thought I would hear you say that. Lol. According to you the ps3 was the winner before the next gen started. Thanks for the laughs.

[Blankman]

msoft is looking to make their profit next yr so they will hold out on that price cut for as long as they can. The 360 is still cheaper that the ps3 and they will hold on to this for as long as they can

[akaFullMetal]

yea i dont see why microsoft really needs to price cut, unless they really, and i mean really want to compete with the wii, by dropping it 50 bucks, but microsofts main competitor is the ps3, and the 360 is stil cheaper after sony's price drop, so why do they really need to, since they kinda need to make money back on the 1 billion lose of the warranties

[Bathyj]

Pricecut announced but no date given, Falcon inards late in the year and Elite launching in PAL territores in August.

Why the hell would anyone buy an Xbox right now? This is gonna slow 360 sales for sure.

I'm not bringing Playstation into it to flame at all but, if PS3 outsells XB in USA for the next couple of weeks, you'll know I was right.

[BoneMagnus]

It will happen the week before Thanksgiving.

That gives the console two months after Halo 3 at its current price - Halo 3 will move consoles - especially the new Halo 360 sku, and then drop in price just in time for prime holiday shopping.

Man I'm tired of being right!