Target flyer reveals imminent Xbox 360 price cuts

by Stevie Smith - Aug 25 2009, 16:45

With Sony using the recent GamesCom platform to officially hack down the price of its PlayStation 3 console to a more palatable $299 USD (€299 Euro), core market competitor Microsoft is apparently keen to secure a tight grip on its rival’s exposed retail collar.

More pointedly, a provocative snapshot of a supposed Target advertising flyer would appear to suggest Redmond-based Microsoft is preparing to counter Sony’s recent $100 USD price drop with significant retail adjustments of its own.

The flyer in question, showcased by the diligent industry watchers at Engadget, shows the 60GB ‘Pro’ model of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 at $249.99 USD and its upper-tier 120GB ‘Elite’ variant at $299.99 USD – respective reductions of $50 USD and $100 USD against existing retail prices.

And, adding a little extra spice to the ‘Pro’ offer, Target’s ad outlines that the 60GB hardware bundle will also come complete with a second wireless Xbox 360 game controller at no extra cost.

While Microsoft has not yet formally announced the price cuts, and the Target flyer could be little more than the result of some able Photoshop work, Engadget seems quietly confident regarding authenticity and offers that the retail shuffle will come into effect on Sunday, August 30 in the United States.

Colour us cynical, but we couldn’t help but notice that the ‘249.99’ and ‘299.99’ price points on the photograph are printed without accompanying dollar signs, while the price assigned to the nearby HDTV clearly carries one.

In the words of 1UP’s Garnett Lee – our favourite videogame podcast presenter – we’re calling bulls**t on this one.

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