Xbox 360 Elite, Pro price cuts finally official
As predicted, Microsoft officially announced what has been rumored for months: the price of an Xbox 360 Elite console will drop by $100, to a $299.99 estimated retail price in the United States. The Xbox 360 Pro will now be priced at $249.99 (ERP), reflecting a price reduction of $50, while supplies last - because there are no future plans to continue with this model going forward. Finally the Arcade SKU will be priced at $199.99 (ERP). Microsoft also emphasized that the “Xbox 360 you buy today” will work with Project Natal, its controller-free gaming solution..
“With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s already time to start looking for entertainment and gifts that everyone will enjoy,” said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of strategy and business development for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corp. “If you’re looking for deep experiences that don’t require deep pockets, now is the time to purchase an Xbox 360. We’ve got the best games, a vast library of TV shows and movies, new music experiences, more ways to connect friends and family, and so much more on the horizon including ‘Project Natal’ — no controller required.”
Of course Shane Kim might have wanted to say something like “Hey Sony, is that my finger in your eye?” or “the PS3 Slim and price cut won’t save you” because this move is obviously an attempt to dampen any momentum Sony might have gotten with cutting the price of the PS3 and the Slim SKU.
