Microsoft Likely to Announce $149 Price Point for Xbox 360 at E3

Thursday, 18 March 2010 14:28 Sherry Baldwin

Add another piece to the puzzle. We keep hearing about the rumored new Xbox 360 Slim based on the preliminary mock-ups of motherboards that have been making the rounds the last couple days. Then this morning brought more news in the form of external USB HDD support for the Xbox 360. There's more.

Xbox 360 It looks like it's all leading up to an E3 announcement where Microsoft will finally be able to reach the magic price point for consoles. A source close to Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division mentioned that a price cut is likely to be announced this summer. With E3 being the biggest show this summer (June to be specific), then it only makes sense that all of our questions will get answered in one big announcement.

Based on the information we have so far, we're looking at a liquidation of the current model Xbox 360s for $149. This will open up retail space for the Slims which will likely debut at $199 and then quickly drop in price once the previous "fat" SKUs have been liquidated. Microsoft did this exact same thing when they jumped to HDMI in all consoles.

The most obvious thing is of course the USB HDD which would be required to make the jump to a Slimmer Xbox 360 as the current model HDD is the same height (or width depending on how your console sits) as the Xbox 360. Removing the HDD option altogether limits SKUs and cheaper parts means lower costs. Based on what we're hearing and the evidence so far, we're looking forward to the price cuts and slim announcement at E3.

Comments

-2 #1 For Natal — AcFreeze 2010-03-18 15:21

It makes sense to lower the price to allow a better entry point for consumers and then bam - sell Natal for $99. You end up with a 360 and motion controls that don't require a Wiimote with a light bulb on it. (PS Move blows)

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+2 #2 old hard drives — FarmerTed 2010-03-18 16:23

A lot of talk about new HDDs and that's great, but I feel like they're leading up to this announce and everyone who owns older xbox 360s are about to get kicked in the junk.

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+1 #3 ok — KRis 2010-03-18 16:29

Honestly, will you stand in front of your tv for more than 20 minutes to play games using "natal"? Natal is not better than Move and Move is not better than "natal". I bought a wii when it came out I havent touched it in months, in fact, I barely ever even play wii sports which is about all these motion control gimmicks are good for, small mini-games that dont require the intricate movements like in shooters and platform games. They work on wii and will work on PS Move because there are buttons...how do you expect to move around in say, a shooter with natal? by actually moving around? you can only move so far forward before you run into your tv, and only so far to the side before you leave the cameras view.

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#4 @KRis — AcFreeze 2010-03-18 16:37

I do agree that all motion controllers suck. I own every console and I ONLY play the 360. Actually, I do play the Dreamcast and Jaguar and about everything else except the PS3 and Wii.

For those who say I'm a fanboy, yes, but I'm honest- PROOF in link:
http://www.gofanboy.com/fanboy-forums/5-general-discussion/12322-corey-haims-double-switch-sealed-in-sega-cabinet#12338

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#5 RE: Microsoft Likely to Announce $149 Price Point for Xbox 360 at E3 — KRis 2010-03-18 16:43

Video game control based on a camera image only is inherently flawed and, as shown, will ONLY work with mini-game or casual gaming experiences (swatting and catching a giant red ball). Motion control is a novelty which, as has happened with the Wii, becomes old and you see yourself back to your xbox, playstation, pc, or w/e. These things have promise as an addition to games, i like the idea of automatic log in with Natal, but, honestly, thats not worth the $150 its going to cost...dont kid your selves, its not going to be below 100.

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#6 RE: Microsoft Likely to Announce $149 Price Point for Xbox 360 at E3 — Slim 2010-03-18 16:43

Im starting to think there will be a sub remote for shooters to work with natal or something to hel with movements and stuff. But FPS will probably work, but just not the way we think. Theyll come up with a concept to make it work.

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#7 @AcFreeze — Jeff D 2010-03-18 16:54

Your collection just made me happy and sad all at once. How did you get all that stuff? No Sony displays like the Xbox ones in the picture. You not kidding you are a fanboy.

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-1 #8 damn fan boys — jaber 2010-03-19 02:54

you fanboys are [censored], keep buying the [censored] products that microsoft offers you, natal is a joke and same goes for any motion [censored] that comes out. wii did good because it was something new but like alot of gamers it gets boring flapping ur arms around like an idiot for hours on in and this $150 price point seems nice but come on! M$ will not sell cheaper witout using cheaper parts and they are already using the cheapest parts available HELLO! RED RING!? ringing any bells? microsoft reminds me of apple, they nickle and dime consumers and they keep going back for more....sad

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#9 RE: Microsoft Likely to Announce $149 Price Point for Xbox 360 at E3 — the outsider 2010-03-19 06:12

$149.00 seems logical. But to mention USB replacing hard drives is crazy. M$ has capped the USB storage to 16GB. Add 350GB only 16GB is usable.

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