Microsoft reduces Xbox 360 hardware price throughout Europe

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By Stevie Smith Aug 21, 2007, 13:22 GMT

Following on from similar hardware price cuts introduced recently in both North America and Australia, software giant Microsoft Corporation has this week revealed that its Xbox 360 videogames console will also receive European price cuts throughout the existing hardware line-up.Starting this coming Friday (August 24), the Xbox 360 will receive a €50 Euro reduction to its popular 20GB Premium model, bringing the price down from €399.99 to a more piggybank-friendly €349.99 (£249.99 GBP).The basic, entry level Core edition of the Xbox 360, which does not include a hard drive, will be reduced by €20 Euro, moving it from €299.99 to €279.99 (£179.99 GBP) and bringing it within touching distance of the Nintendo Wii’s €249.99 price point.While trumpeting its pleasure at being able to offer the Xbox 360 "at a new, lower estimated price," Microsoft has also confirmed that the new matte black 120GB Elite version of the Xbox 360, which also arrives with an onboard high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port as standard, will be released across the region from Friday for a price of €499.99 (£299.99 GBP).Microsoft’s regional price cuts have come on the back of a $100 USD reduction made by Sony Corp. to its 60GB PlayStation 3 console, bringing its down from $599.99 to $499.99. However, it is worth noting that this drop was soon revealed to be a temporary stock-clearing measure designed to open a retail path for the new 80GB model, which will again be priced at $599.99. Unlike Microsoft’s European Xbox 360 demographic, European owners of the PlayStation 3 have not been granted a hardware price drop following the initial US reduction, but rather a same-price ‘Starter Pack’ that bundles two controllers and two games (Motorstorm and Resistance: Fall of Man) into a single £425 GBP offer."Whether it's our lead in console sales, record-setting games and accessory attach rates or our leading online service, evidence is everywhere that Xbox is thriving," enthused Stephen McGill, head of Gaming & Entertainment for Xbox in the UK. "When you combine that momentum with these great-value offerings with our unbeatable Christmas game line-up, it's clear that Xbox 360 is uniquely placed to take the UK by storm this Christmas."As of the end of Q2 2007, Microsoft had built up US-based Xbox 360 sales of 5.6 million units since its retail release in November of 2005. Rivals consoles from Nintendo and Sony, which both launched in November of 2006, have so far mustered 2.8 million and 1.4 million units respectively.

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