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Rumour: 360 price cut in the UK this month?

G

GarthVaderUK

Banned
Xbox 360 price cut coming this month
Trade sources point to Wii-like RRP as Microsoft looks to capture family market

MCV has it on very good authority that Microsoft is planning an Xbox 360 price cut at the end of the month, which will allow its lower-spec Arcade model to compete with Nintendo’s Wii on price.

In what is being seen as a significant move to attract the family market, that would mean a dip from Arcade’s current price of £199.99 to something closer to £179.99.

It is unknown if Microsoft’s other Xbox 360 SKUs, the Premium pack and the Xbox 360 Elite, would enjoy similar price drops. However, the platform holder introduced a price cut on all three models in August last year.

One trade source told MCV: “A few publishers have confirmed the news to us, and we’re aware of some price movement is coming. The major chain retailers have all been told.”

Other high level trade sources have also heavily suggested the move is coming, speaking off the record exclusively to MCV.

Microsoft declined to comment on the cut, telling MCV: “We don’t comment on rumour and speculation.”
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http://www.mcvuk.com/news/29820/Xbox-360-price-cut-coming-this-month

Thanks to ZeroTolerance for the TechRadar news link:
Xbox 360 price cut March 14th
50 Euros per SKU, cheaper than Wii

TechRadar understands that the price of every Xbox 360 SKU is to be slashed by 50 Euros on March 14th across Europe, according to numerous well-placed games industry sources.

We have corroborated this story with numerous UK retailers this morning that the 360 price is set to be slashed on this date.

The rumour is that the price cut will be in the region of 50 Euros per SKU (£38.26 at the current exchange rate) which we will confirm as soon as we find a retailer willing to go on record. Microsoft has of course responded with a swift 'no comment' when we contacted them this morning to ask for confirmation on this news.

This effectively means that the cost of the Xbox 360 Elite system on Amazon will be in the region of £240 and the basic Arcade system (without a hard drive) will cost in the region of £150.

Which means that the Xbox 360 is to be cheaper than the Nintendo Wii this coming Easter.

TechRadar spoke to a Gamestation store manager earlier today who expressed surprise that a price cut was being introduced.

“We are currently selling the Elite plus one game at £330, the Premium system with any game at £280 or £260 with FIFA Street or Assassin’s Creed and the Arcade version for £230 with any game or £220 with FIFA Street,” the retailer told us.

Knock around £40 off those prices and you have what is clearly this Easter’s biggest gaming bargain. “I might even buy one myself now,” the store manager quipped.
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http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/rumour-xbox-360-price-cut-march-14th-257400
 
MCV is usually a good source.

I don't see how much a £20 arcade cut will do for them though. Wii is now desireable for more important reasons than its price, has been for some time.

It'll be more interesting if any other skus get cut too.
 
If you looked online for around 5 minutes you could probably find a new arcade unit for £179.99 anyway.
 
MS should stop with these piddly little price cuts and just fucking do a proper one.
Suerte said:
If you looked online for around 5 minutes you could probably find a new arcade unit for £179.99 anyway.
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Well, you'll be able to find one for £159.99 after the price drop then.
 
gofreak said:
MCV is usually a good source.

I don't see how much a £20 arcade cut will do for them though. Wii is now desireable for more important reasons than its price, has been for some time.

It'll be more interesting if any other skus get cut too.
Click to expand...

They stole the rumor from TECHRADER actually, but they are just as reliable.
 
peter_moore_rocks.gif
 
Yeah, that doesn't seem like an aggressive enough price cut to me.

I'm also interested in seeing if the Premium and Elite get price cuts as well.
 
FFObsessed said:
£20 price cut on the Arcade? *sigh*

Hurry up and drop the Premium price so I can buy another one...
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No kidding. That's a tiny cut. Half-measures are not going to do much for MS. Hopefully the rumor isn't right about the exact amount. That might translate to a cut to $250 in the US. They need to get it to $200, and the regular system to <$300.
 
GhaleonEB said:
No kidding. That's a tiny cut. Half-measures are not going to do much for MS. Hopefully the rumor isn't right about the exact amount. That might translate to a cut to $250 in the US. They need to get it to $200, and the regular system to <$300.
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I doubt they'll ever sell the Arcade for less than the Wii. Like, ever.
 
£20 off made a world of difference to PSP sales as retailers use the discount mainly to make bundle deals look more attractive

If the arcade is £150 i'm buying a spare for my bedroom, then I can whip off the Harddrive and move between the two
 
BenjaminBirdie said:
Perception?
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I'm sure MS's PR department would be able to spin it to be a positive thing. Cutting the price of the arcade so it's cheaper than the Wii can only really be a positive thing IMO.
 
Suerte said:
I'm sure MS's PR department would be able to spin it to be a positive thing. Cutting the price of the arcade so it's cheaper than the Wii can only really be a positive thing IMO.
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The arcade unit's strength is that one day it will be £100/$200 , i'm pretty sure that has always been MS's game plan
 
The way things are going the wii will end up the most expensive console this gen. Wouldn't that be funny.
 
Roders5 said:
The way things are going the wii will end up the most expensive console this gen. Wouldn't that be funny.
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And for shits and giggles Nintendo will keep the price at $250/250 euro untill the demand drops...
 
herod said:
Arcade? Don't lower the price, kill it!
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Why?

It's too late to all of a sudden suggest that all machines now have a HD.
The arcade is a good way for Microsoft to reach the mass audience, as long as the price is attractive.

I wish the Arcade model dropped further in price but they're getting closer. I'm curious how much they'll drop it in NA.
 
mr_bishiuk said:
The arcade unit's strength is that one day it will be £100/$200 , i'm pretty sure that has always been MS's game plan
Click to expand...

One day it will be, but I think the spin can be made that "for the same price as a Wii, you can get blah blah blah bling blong bling blah."

I realize that in GAFton Heights, the Arcade is garbage without an HDD but to MS that's not the differential with the Wii. It's the "HD Experience", which is why I don't think they'll ever dip below the Wii's price point.
 
I've been looking to get myself a new HDMI 360 now that I've bought an HDTV with 3 of the inputs. The desk is a bit of a mess of VGA cables and a switchbox at the moment - 2 PCs and a 360 will do that... If I can get a HDMI Arcade for £150 and put my existing unit downstairs or something, that'd be ideal.
 
cjelly said:
It's already £230 in a lot of places. Hopefully an official RRP of £199 will put it down to £179.
Click to expand...

Had a quick look on HotUKDeals - there's a deal on at Littlewoods for an Xbox 360 Elite, £242.70 delivered. It's amazing how much you can save if you know where to look!
 
pr0cs said:
Why?

It's too late to all of a sudden suggest that all machines now have a HD.
The arcade is a good way for Microsoft to reach the mass audience, as long as the price is attractive.

I wish the Arcade model dropped further in price but they're getting closer. I'm curious how much they'll drop it in NA.
Click to expand...

fuck the mass audience, that's why. Time to stop compromising for the sake of poor people. When the Premium can hit the price that the Arcade was launched at, the Arcade should die.
 
What the fuck is going on here?!?!?!

I have just read 2 back to back positive articles on the 360. That's like soooo 2007 guys :D

Great news, hopefully the pricecut will apply everywhere.

Get it down to $199 canadian with a free WIFI adaptor and you will stop me from picking up a PS3 for the living room (you can steam your media without a HDD....right?).
 
herod said:
fuck the mass audience, that's why. Time to stop compromising for the sake of poor people. When the Premium can hit the price that the Arcade was launched at, the Arcade should die.
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You don't get it... killing the arcade / core now would make no difference whatsoever to development of games.
 
they seem to think the arcade isnt selling cos of the price. lol people just dont want it. its a retard console and the consumers see it for what it really is. at least slap some 10gb on it or something
 
BenjaminBirdie said:
One day it will be, but I think the spin can be made that "for the same price as a Wii, you can get blah blah blah bling blong bling blah."

I realize that in GAFton Heights, the Arcade is garbage without an HDD but to MS that's not the differential with the Wii. It's the "HD Experience", which is why I don't think they'll ever dip below the Wii's price point.
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there you go. worrying about mythical perception when nintendo is lapping the field and sony is catching up. what's more important? some unmeasurable perception that may or may not exist, or actual sales?

and when wii never drops in price because it never drops in demand, what then? you can't peg your price completely on that of a competitor. there are other variables at work.

the beauty is that you can have your cake and eat it, too. if microsoft drops the price on arcade and puts pressure on nintendo, then nintendo may respond in kind and you still have your perception lead, whatever that's worth (and it's not much, going by sales trends), as well as a lower price.
 
mabuza said:
they seem to think the arcade isnt selling cos of the price. lol people just dont want it. its a retard console and the consumers see it for what it really is. at least slap some 10gb on it or something
Click to expand...

People dont want it because at its still rather expensive price point you may as well pay teh extra for a premium, however once the arcade hits the magic price point of say £100/$200 they'll be less inclined to worry about the other option and pick it up without research.
 
Odysseus said:
there you go. worrying about mythical perception when nintendo is lapping the field and sony is catching up. what's more important? some unmeasurable perception that may or may not exist, or actual sales?

and when wii never drops in price because it never drops in demand, what then? you can't peg your price completely on that of a competitor. there are other variables at work.

the beauty is that you can have your cake and eat it, too. if microsoft drops the price on arcade and puts pressure on nintendo, then nintendo may respond in kind and you still have your perception lead, whatever that's worth (and it's not much, going by sales trends), as well as a lower price.
Click to expand...

You're right. I just think that's what they'll probably do, not what they should do.
 
It had better be a good price cut, its been over two years since the 360 launched, the premium should be at the very most £199 in the UK.
 
BenjaminBirdie said:
You're right. I just think that's what they'll probably do, not what they should do.
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if we're talking about what they should do versus what they will do, yeah. i do believe they're dumb enough to not go below the wii in price "on principle."
 
Danj said:
Is it still cheaper to buy a premium than buying a tardcade + hard drive?
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Not unless you shop smart, my local Sainsbury's has the 20GB HDD for £45, so the Arcade plus HDD would be £245, but then of course you have the bundle offers in Game or HMV...

"....ooooh short answer yes with an if, long answer no with a but..."

Lovejoy.png
 
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