360 gets annual price cuts?

[Grudge]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=11619

Corporate VP hints at cost reduction strategy for next-gen Xbox

With more than two months to go before the Xbox 360 launches in Europe, a top Microsoft executive has announced that yearly price cuts are planned for the console.

Xbox 360 is due to launch in Europe on December 2, priced at £209.99 for the basic "Core System". For another £70 consumers can purchase a package which also includes a hard disk, media remote, wireless controller and other extras.

"We will wind up cost-reducing the product every year," Todd Holmdahl, corporate vice president of the Xbox product group, told Reuters. It's estimated that the 360 costs approximately $100 less per unit to manufacture than Sony's PS3, giving Microsoft more scope for price cuts.

The current gen Xbox had its priced slashed by £100 just six weeks after it debuted in Europe - apparently because less than 200,000 units were sold in the month following launch, according to some estimates.

But there's now a firmly established Xbox fanbase in the UK, and it seems unlikely that Microsoft will be forced to make such a drastic move this time around.

Microsoft was unavailable for comment at the time of writing.

[Grudge]

I bet the first price cut will coincide with the release of Halo 3 (or Halo 2.5, whichever way they choose to go). Sometimes between March-May 2006. I think I'll be waiting until then, the launch lineup hasn't impressed me yet.

[Ryoki]

I shall not be getting one, i will save my money and get myself a brand new PC somewhere in the future.

I aim towards something that is so modern and incredibly futuristic that it will have tamagochi-like qualities (engaging it in discussion it will make it run faster and better whilst cursing it will rapidly reduce computing power) that will ensure that my personal computer will indeed become Personal as well as just Computer.

[DiscoDave]

I won't be getting one either, but I was surprised with its launch price considing how much the PS2 and original xbox came out at.

I may wait for a PS3 but like Ryoki, i'll probably just get a new pc in the future.

[KingManULTRA]

The Xbox 360 will go down in price at least $50 (maybe $100 for the premium package) when the PS3 comes out, watch.