With this year’s E3 Media & Business Summit in Los Angeles just day away, speculation regarding an imminent Xbox 360 price cut announcement has been a tad rife. And, while Microsoft Corp. has remained oddly quiet about the whole thing, the Wall Street Journal seems to think the retail reduction will come into effect on Sunday, July 13.
Xbox 360 price cut expected to be confirmed this Sunday. Image: TravisHornung/Flickr.
While still very much within the realm of rumour at this point, WSJ cites “people familiar with the matter” as providing reliable information that Redmond-based Microsoft is on the brink of lopping $50 USD from the price of its Xbox 360 videogames console in the United States -- the day before E3 swings into action.
Hardware price cuts have become almost commonplace before recent high-profile videogame industry events as heavyweights such as Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo use the spotlight they provide to actively jostle for improved market positioning.
In that sense, Microsoft’s upcoming price cut is likely a move designed to further distance the Xbox 360 from the stubbornly inflated price of the Sony PlayStation 3 while further reducing the price gap between the 360 and Nintendo’s low cost and consumer-friendly Wii.
If rumours are to be believed then Microsoft’s adjusted price point will be advertised by electronics retailers in this Sunday’s circulars, which will confirm that the Xbox 360 Pro (a.k.a. Premium) console, which comes equipped with a 20GB external hard drive), is dropping from $349 USD to $299 USD.
Based on those figures, Microsoft will boost the consumer appeal of its console by putting a clear $100 USD between the Xbox 360 and lowest priced PlayStation 3 (40GB), while also pulling to just $50 USD of the hot-selling $249 USD Nintendo Wii.
According to June sales figures released by market research group NPD, the Wii continues to remain an in-demand console thanks to 675,000 units sales for the month, while the PlayStation 3 once again wrestled second place away from the Xbox 360 by posting 209,000 units sales in comparison to Microsoft’s 187,000.
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