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Price points set in place for next-generation launch; European details awaited
The LA Times has broken news of Microsoft's pricing plans for the Xbox 360 console, revealing that the a basic version of the next-generation system will launch at $299, with a premium version shipping at $399.
According to the paper, the $299 version of the console will not include a hard drive - with the extra $100 for the premium version buying a 20Gb drive as well as a wireless controller, headset, Ethernet cable and wireless television-style remote control.
No exact date for the launch is mentioned in the brief article, which will appear in this morning's edition of the major broadsheet, but has already been published on the newspaper's website.
The print edition of the LA Times won't be on news stands until after this morning's Microsoft announcements at the Game Convention event in Leipzig, so it looks likely that the official announcement will go out there after all - despite yesterday's rumours at the show that suggested that no major news would be forthcoming, since none of the firm's top executives had made the trip to Germany.
Europeans will be watching the announcement carefully for news of the Euro and GBP price points for the console. It seems possible that Microsoft will translate between Euro and USD on an even ratio, giving a 399 Euro price point for the premium model - which probably translates as GBP 299 after VAT is taken into consideration.
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299 for the Premium version isn't too bad I reckon - worth it for the extras you get.
Whaddya think?
Yup, I'll be getting one.
haha poor. Oh well! £210 is damn good for the base unit and £280 is only £5 away from my estimate! I should be an industry analyst! Good stuff.
Today at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany, Microsoft unveiled the price of their upcoming next-generation system.
The new 'box will come in two flavors, a core and a fully-loaded model, and will carry two separate price points.
The Xbox 360 core system -- priced at $299.99 in the United States, ?299.99 in Europe and £209.99 in the U.K. -- will come with the console, a wired controller, faceplate, standard audio-visual cable and an Xbox Live Silver membership. An Xbox Live Silver membership allows you to create a user id, download game content, access the Xbox 360 marketplace and gives Live users the ability to chat with friends. It does not, however, allow users to play games online. To do this, Silver members must upgrade to a Gold membership.
The Xbox 360 fully-loaded system -- priced at $399.99 in the United States, €399.99 in Europe and £279.99 in the U.K. -- will come complete with the console, a wireless controller, a 20GB detachable hard drive, a faceplate, headset, component HD audio-visual cables, an Ethernet cable, Xbox Live Silver membership and, for a limited time (most likely only though the end of 2005), an Xbox 360 media remote.
The Xbox 360 will launch in North America, Europe and Japan this holiday season. Expect to hear more about the Japanese launch and pricing at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show, which takes place in mid-September.
Interesting. Add 8% sales TAX to the $399 and you get $430-ish - which is the final amount the US gamers will pay. Our £279 pack works out at around $504, so it's only the TAX in it, really... with ours being 17.5%.
Not a bad price. Expecially for gamers on a budget. £210 for a 360, albeit bare-boned, is promising news and the postential for it to go down to under £200 when the £400-ish PS3 comes out will be quite notable!
Probably find a lot of the games are actually cheaper if you buy them from the right people. Best buying straight from the States as import shops in the UK are usually over priced.
Plus, how do the price of games compare once you've imported them?