Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive to retail for GBP 199
The Xbox 360 won’t benefit from a price cut this Christmas - but instead a HD-DVD and Premium console package is due - spearheading a marketing drive of console bundles available from November.
The Premium Xbox 360 wonât benefit from a price cut this Christmas - but instead a HD-DVD and console package is due, spearheading a marketing drive of console bundles available from November.
Retail sources have indicated to GamesIndustry.biz that Microsoft is currently planning to price the standalone HD-DVD drive at GBP 199 (293 Euro), and to package it with two HD-DVD movies. The sources also suggested that Microsoft will bundle the Premium console and next-generation movie player together for under GBP 400 (589 Euro) — and that the price could even be as low as GBP 375 (552 Euros).
Next-generation movie support is considered a unique selling point of the PlayStation 3, but Microsoftâs HD-DVD bundle could retail around GBP 50 (74 Euro) cheaper than Sonyâs machine, which features the rival Blu-ray movie format.
UK distributor Gem is already offering Premium Xbox 360s with a copy of Project Gotham Racing 3 and two wireless controllers for GBP 299.
Itâs expected an official Premium bundle will be made available in early November, with a newly released triple-A third-party title included.
Microsoft recently reduced the price of the Xbox 360 Core package, after many retailers had already taken a similar intiative.
With the pressure to compete with Sony over the Christmas market no longer a threat for Europe, Microsoft looks set to capitalise with a range of SKUs to help grow its installed base in the region.
Microsoft did not respond to requests for comment.