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Taken from ComputerAndVideoGames.com
EXCLUSIVE: XBOX PRICE SLASHED IN EUROPE ON APRIL 26
Blink. You read it right. Microsoft has just confirmed that the price of its console is about to fall by £100, with full compensation for those who bought at the original price
Microsoft is to drop the price of Xbox in Europe by £100 to £199 on April 26, less than six weeks after the launch of the machine. Slow pan-European sales prompted calls from industry leaders in the last week to drop the price immediately. Microsoft has obviously had its ears wide open.
"At 6.00am today, we'll be reducing the price of the Xbox to €299, £199, effective from April 26," said Chris Lewis, UK divisional director for Xbox retail. "There are no announcements, or any plans to make price changes elsewhere. It is a European-only announcement at this stage."
The speed of the move will come as a shock to many, but Microsoft has merely pointed to its wish to remain competitive in an increasingly tough market.
"When we announced the price back in Cannes at X01 [In October, 2001 – Ed], the terrain was slightly different to that which we have now," said Lewis. "Nintendo [GameCube] wasn't imminent, and certainly PlayStation 2 was at a different price point. We were always committed to being competitive.
"For us to remain competitive, and to allow even more people to get the best value and get the chance to play with Xbox, we want to remove any obstacles to success and change our price-point now."
Lewis went on to reiterate Microsoft's commitment to the console market for the long-term.
Obviously wary of causing chagrin among early adopters - already at least £345 lighter due to buying at the original European price - Microsoft also confirmed today a system for refunding gamers who supported the format from the off. Anyone who has already bought an Xbox, or buys one in Europe up to April 25, will be eligible to receive two free games and a free controller in the wake of the cut. Honestly and truly, kids, you cannot say fairer than that.
Xbox games retail at £45. Xbox controllers sell for £25. That's £115 in total. That's free money. Say "thank you Mr Microsoft". "We want to reward the early adoption," said Lewis.
Lewis denied that the price for the machine was pitched too high for Europe initially. "When we first made our pricing decisions in late summer last year, we felt that at that time – we were twice the power of PlayStation 2, we had a better games line-up, the box was future proof, we were built with broadband and there are a whole lot of online announcements coming at E3 - we offered great value for money," he said. "We still do.
"What we recognise now is that we need to remain competitive. To that end, we've made this decision and we've made it for Europe. We feel that we've made the right decision at the right time."
Xbox Europe is planning to head into E3 bouyed by extra sales garnered from the drop, with the general focus for the show looking increasingly likely to be online play. "What that does do is leave the way very clear for us to have some good discussions around the games and remove any obstacles that might be debated around the price," said Lewis.
EXCLUSIVE: XBOX PRICE SLASHED IN EUROPE ON APRIL 26
Blink. You read it right. Microsoft has just confirmed that the price of its console is about to fall by £100, with full compensation for those who bought at the original price
Microsoft is to drop the price of Xbox in Europe by £100 to £199 on April 26, less than six weeks after the launch of the machine. Slow pan-European sales prompted calls from industry leaders in the last week to drop the price immediately. Microsoft has obviously had its ears wide open.
"At 6.00am today, we'll be reducing the price of the Xbox to €299, £199, effective from April 26," said Chris Lewis, UK divisional director for Xbox retail. "There are no announcements, or any plans to make price changes elsewhere. It is a European-only announcement at this stage."
The speed of the move will come as a shock to many, but Microsoft has merely pointed to its wish to remain competitive in an increasingly tough market.
"When we announced the price back in Cannes at X01 [In October, 2001 – Ed], the terrain was slightly different to that which we have now," said Lewis. "Nintendo [GameCube] wasn't imminent, and certainly PlayStation 2 was at a different price point. We were always committed to being competitive.
"For us to remain competitive, and to allow even more people to get the best value and get the chance to play with Xbox, we want to remove any obstacles to success and change our price-point now."
Lewis went on to reiterate Microsoft's commitment to the console market for the long-term.
Obviously wary of causing chagrin among early adopters - already at least £345 lighter due to buying at the original European price - Microsoft also confirmed today a system for refunding gamers who supported the format from the off. Anyone who has already bought an Xbox, or buys one in Europe up to April 25, will be eligible to receive two free games and a free controller in the wake of the cut. Honestly and truly, kids, you cannot say fairer than that.
Xbox games retail at £45. Xbox controllers sell for £25. That's £115 in total. That's free money. Say "thank you Mr Microsoft". "We want to reward the early adoption," said Lewis.
Lewis denied that the price for the machine was pitched too high for Europe initially. "When we first made our pricing decisions in late summer last year, we felt that at that time – we were twice the power of PlayStation 2, we had a better games line-up, the box was future proof, we were built with broadband and there are a whole lot of online announcements coming at E3 - we offered great value for money," he said. "We still do.
"What we recognise now is that we need to remain competitive. To that end, we've made this decision and we've made it for Europe. We feel that we've made the right decision at the right time."
Xbox Europe is planning to head into E3 bouyed by extra sales garnered from the drop, with the general focus for the show looking increasingly likely to be online play. "What that does do is leave the way very clear for us to have some good discussions around the games and remove any obstacles that might be debated around the price," said Lewis.
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Not sure!
Read carefuly though - a full and final list of games will appear on 26th April.
Only claim now if you're SURE you want those two games.
Read carefuly though - a full and final list of games will appear on 26th April.
Only claim now if you're SURE you want those two games.
WòókieeMøn§†€® wrote:
> adrian wrote:
> So which free games can you get?
>
> http://www.xbox.com/uk/news/0025.htm
Cheers
Seems like I'll get Rallisport challenge and Oddworld. Wanted to get Rallisport challenge anyway.
Got a question for people. With this form how do you select the games, do you just delete the one you dont want or try to type in the small box near the name of the game? As I would like to send the form off via email.
> adrian wrote:
> So which free games can you get?
>
> http://www.xbox.com/uk/news/0025.htm
Cheers
Seems like I'll get Rallisport challenge and Oddworld. Wanted to get Rallisport challenge anyway.
Got a question for people. With this form how do you select the games, do you just delete the one you dont want or try to type in the small box near the name of the game? As I would like to send the form off via email.
adrian wrote:
> So which free games can you get?
http://www.xbox.com/uk/news/0025.htm
> So which free games can you get?
http://www.xbox.com/uk/news/0025.htm
So which free games can you get? As I would like to get Rallisport and maybe Oddworld. But can you claim a game thats not out yet? As Gun Valkyrie would be a choice of mine as that is out late May.
Anyone rang up Microsoft yet?
Anyone rang up Microsoft yet?
Rallisport is a definite. I had DoA3 but took it back and exchanged it for Munch's Oddysee.
Not sure what else to get. I suppose the delay in the "full" list is while they try and persuade other publishers to allow their games to be added to the list. After all, those buying at the new low price will be able to choose any game, so why shouldn't we? :-)
Wonder if they'll let me choose a couple of PS2 games... there are plenty of those I want! ;-p
Not sure what else to get. I suppose the delay in the "full" list is while they try and persuade other publishers to allow their games to be added to the list. After all, those buying at the new low price will be able to choose any game, so why shouldn't we? :-)
Wonder if they'll let me choose a couple of PS2 games... there are plenty of those I want! ;-p
Fair point.
So now that Buffy is looking unlikely, which two games will you choose?
I'm really not sure.
Almost definitely Rallisport but as for the other....
Don't fancy DOA3 and not really Amped either.
Which doesn't really leave me with much.
Will be keen to see what the updated list is.
So now that Buffy is looking unlikely, which two games will you choose?
I'm really not sure.
Almost definitely Rallisport but as for the other....
Don't fancy DOA3 and not really Amped either.
Which doesn't really leave me with much.
Will be keen to see what the updated list is.
Well if I hadn't, Goatboy or Mystique would have.
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