640°

Xbox 360 Elite drops out of top 50 sales post $299

Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 Elite fell out of the top 50 sales rank at retail this week following a price cut to under $300.

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news.punchjump.com
Silellak5363d ago (Edited 5363d ago )

It really isn't a surprise; the 360 Elite simply isn't a match for the PS3 when they're both the same price. Some people will still go for the 360, sure, because they prefer the exclusive games, or more of their friends have the system. But when it comes down to people who are just looking for the most value, they're going to turn to the PS3.

Microsoft needs to either improve the value of the 360's Elite bundle by adding more to it, or further drop the price to $250.

If I were MS, this is what I would do:

Elite bundle: $279 - 120 gb hard drive, bundled network adapter, pack-in exclusive game

Arcade bundle $199 - 20 gb hard drive

Lower the price of the network adapter to $49 and the 120 gb stand-alone hard drive to $79. Improve Live's service so that it offers more features above and beyond PSN to further justify the price to consumers.

While this won't MATCH the PS3's value, it will at least put them on more even footing. The big gaps at that point will be Blu-Ray playback, and free online play, both of which would be hard to swing at this point in the 360's life cycle.

Even then, nothing is obviously guaranteed, but some changes will have to be made to the 360's pricing (particularly with their accessories) if they want to even have a chance at remaining competitive against the behemoth that is a $299 PS3.

GWAVE5363d ago (Edited 5363d ago )

Fission mailed?

Continuing to price drop won't necessarily increase the 360's sales. See, with the PS3, people have been WAITING for a price drop. Gamers have been saying this since the PS3 launched. The 360's price, however, has always been affordable, and the Arcade unit has been cheaper than the Wii for 3/4th of a year now.

Remember that the Gamecube system was always cheaper than the competition...

FlipMode5363d ago

Looks like xbox price drops aren't going to do the damage they used to, the PS3 is at too good of a price point now.

patterson5363d ago (Edited 5363d ago )

Well, M$ has already had the cheapest (both in price and build quality) console on the market now for about a year. Further price drops aren't going to do much except cause brief sales blips.

What they really need to do is offer compelling exclusives. That's what sells in the long term and brings in new customers.

josuttis5363d ago (Edited 5363d ago )

Microsoft's E&D division that the Xbox is part of just posted an 30+ million dollar loss for last quarter. The company continues to do massive cost cutting and layoffs.

They already did their desperation price cut to 200 dollars. If they actually could afford more losses on the Xbox 360 they would have done so at the same time the Slim was introduced.

sonarus5363d ago

Sweet...another price cut incoming for the X360. Or maybe some exclusive DLC for some upcoming game. Go microsoft go

JonnyBigBoss5363d ago

Agreed. Now, obviously it depends what the consumer is looking for, but the PS3 is now just a better product at the same price for the average consumer than the 360.

eagle215363d ago

PS3 era in full swing. Japan sales for PS3 were for 3 days! The Elite also has a 3 star customer rating while the Slim and Wii are 4.5/5 stars.

Teh amazon, teh amazon. lol

soxfan20055363d ago (Edited 5363d ago )

So, I guess when official sales number come out, there will be no more PS3 excuses.

"Just wait for the price drop"
"Just wait for the slim"

They're both here. Plus, the PS3 price drop happened in mid-August, and the slim was released around August 25. Meanwhile, the 360 price cuts didn't take effect until August 30, giving PS3 two weeks with a HUGE price advantage.

It will be interesting to see the official numbers as they start coming out in the next few weeks.

MS is in a very good position right now. Even with the $299 PS3 slim providing stiff competition, 360 sales continue to grow month over month and year over year. As I have predicted many times, PS3's gains will NOT come at the expense of the 360 - they will come at the expense of PS2 and Wii.

EDIT @ Familyguy - I do not dislike the PS3, I dislike the extreme PS3 fanboys. Look at my posting history - where do you see any hate? Any "extreme" remarks I make are ALWAYS in response to an ignorant PS3 fanboy rant. Want to see the dumbest, most ignorant comments from PS3 fanboys? They are easy to find - just look in any positive 360 article. Just as you would like to see people like me off this site, I would like to enjoy reading articles about my favorite games without being swarmed by ignorant PS3 fanboys. The difference between me and them is that they always make the first dumb comment - I just respond after.

omegaheat5363d ago

You took the ideas right out of my head. However, the tip of the iceberg would be to internally include the wireless adapter. It's quite sad that even the Wii has built in WiFi. The technology is so old and the thought of paying a hundred bucks for an outdated adapter seems ridiculous. Microsoft is now in a position to price cut their hardware and accessories by 30 percent or more. Right now, I think it's a wise decision to play the wait and see game. Going head to head with Sony's $299 console that has WiFi, Blu-ray, and free online play makes the choice obvious to any consumer that's indecisive about which one to get. I love my 360 and it's games, but Microsoft doesn't need to win me over anymore; it now has to capitalize on the market that's been holding out for a better value. Sony by no means can afford another price drop on their console. A $249 120gb Elite with WiFi included would be the nail in the coffin to its competitors. With the Natal coming around the corner it would be naive for analyst or anybody to assume that a bomb in pricing won't be dropping soon. The $299 Elite is just testing waters. The Natal will be the relaunch of the 360 just as the PS3's new slim design is to their third relaunch. And yes, this is the third launch.

FamilyGuy5363d ago

Yes, it will be interesting to see how much higher the sales actually were than VGCharts reported and how pointless the Elite drop was but we won't see that info till the end of the month/next month.

It'll also be interesting to see you disappear from this site as your unfounded PS3 hate will be over whelmed by the massive influx of positive PS3 news.

Seriously, I do want to see how much the 360s sells with its price drops and to see how it did in japan since it had an unusual raise in the weeks leading up to the slim ps3s release.

The Killer5363d ago (Edited 5363d ago )

keep lying to your self until one day you believe your lie,

ps3 slim launched 26 of august?? LOL, ps3 price cut start mid august(mid=15 of august)LOL, you are missing one week delayment in everything releated to slim and price cut.

ps3 will just suck out most of 360 sales, and you will see it this holiday!! what does 360 have?? hmmmm extension pack for halo, and hhmmm alan wake? or thats next year?? and hmmmm splinter cell?? well thats looks good but ps2 1.5 graphics, the action looked cool, but uncharted just fly so high from it!!

TheBlackSmoke5363d ago (Edited 5363d ago )

The fact the people are even talking of further price cuts to solve the issue is an admittance that the 360 is not worth the money they are asking for it.

you silly fangirls bragged about sales all the time when it was HALF THE PRICE of the PS3 but now they are the same price, the 360 has been shown as the cheap piece of inferior technology that it really is.

EDIT: @ soxfan

Please stop with the damage control. PS3 is a more desirable product than the 360.

Funny how all of a sudden a headstart counts eh soxfan?

soxfan20055363d ago (Edited 5363d ago )

http://www.n4g.com/industry...

Read the comments - that's from 8/26.

lokiroo4205363d ago

LMAO, soxfan using the head start excuse, wow!

5362d ago
Pika-pie5362d ago

At least they didnt increase the price of the arcade, that would be stupid..

..Oh wait..

Bob Loblaw5362d ago (Edited 5362d ago )

You don't get charged until your product ships so PS3 Slim's actual "sales" didn't register until the release day of September 1st, NOT when people pre-ordered a week early. Sales numbers for the PS3 Slim before September 1st will be zero because people didn't actually "buy" it until September 1st, NOT August 26th like you're implying so you can protect your beloved 360's integrity.

Nice try with the damage control though ;)

shovelbum5362d ago

I play the hell out of my 360 but for MS to compete long term with the PS3 at the current price point, they are going to have to bundle wifi with the elite console. That IMO is a big issue for anyone interested in the 360. I paid nearly a hundred bucks that that stupid adapter. I think it's time (way past actually) to integrate it with the console. Either way it'll return near the top when Halo drops.

CaptainKratos5362d ago

sony is doom.......................oh wait nvm o__o

rockleex5362d ago (Edited 5362d ago )

But it matters that retailers were selling PS3 slims before the official release date.

It didn't matter that Dreamcast launched before the PS2.

But it mattered that PS2 launched before the Xbox and Gamecube.

soxfan2005 and other fanboys are too funny.

ultimolu5362d ago (Edited 5362d ago )

And soxfan keeps spinning.

Round and round we go! Whee!

Yes, because there's no such thing as extreme 360 fans.

rockleex5362d ago

360

Circle

Spin

You spin my head right round right round... all 360 degrees.

Game13a13y5362d ago

to really make an impact on the PS3 slim sales. at same price point, customers will go with the more next-gen high tech future proof machine (the PS3) on any given day. but if its like $99 vs $299, then some cheapass gamer will buy it.

JokesOnYou5362d ago (Edited 5362d ago )

The extreme sony folks on this site always take any positive news for sony to the extreme. PS3 is doing well but I expect 360 will do just fine, once again Amazon has become big news even though ps3 has been higher on Amazon bestseller list most of the time compared to 360 and still 360 has outsold ps3 consistently month to month by NPD#'s, although obviously ps3 sales are waay up now which will be reflected in NPD#'s still Amazon is just a small portion of the overall sales #'s.

JOY

soxfan20055362d ago (Edited 5362d ago )

The article I linked to had several reports of PS3 slims at Best Buy stores on 8/26. Those sales will certainly count on the day they are sold. Nice try with your spin, though.

JD_Shadow5362d ago

@soxfan2005: Then why didn't you say that when you first posted it? Might've saved yourself a BUNCH of headach...oh, wait, you say that AFTER the fact!

@JOY: You know, I'm waiting for the time when you will actually TRY to find some new arguments than "excuse all these Sony faithful that call you out on your BS", and the "yeah, but" line. I mean, how many more times must we have to hear and debunk these? It's not like we've never heard them before.

masterg5362d ago

@sonarus

Why on earth would you be happy about exclusive DLC.
Exclusive DLC is just the same DLC as would have been made anyway. The only difference is a company paid money for it to be exclusive. Meaning the exclusive console doesn't win, it just doesn't lose.

+ Show (27) more repliesLast reply 5362d ago
DrRobotnik5363d ago

Well this was bound to happen.

patterson5363d ago (Edited 5363d ago )

Whaaa? OK so M$ dropped the price to $300 and then it promptly drops out of the top 50 LOL. Wow that's not good HAHAHAHA.

I guess they've reached maximum saturation. Maybe for their PC gaming fix, potential customers are instead turning to *gasp* a new PC? ;D

El Botto5363d ago

"but, but, but...PS3 slim iz too late because MS will drop down ze price"

36T5362d ago

I wouldn't talk too soon. Sure the PS3 slim is selling very well. Everybody expected it to sell well in the first few months. Good on Sony for coming up with a plan to build their user base. MS has a plan and soon enough (after the Slim hype) the plan will be put into affect. It should be back and forth between the two for quite some time. After all, this is business.

PS3PCFTW5362d ago

there will b no back n forth.
360 has no games.
360 has no devs to make those games.
360 has no bluray.
360 has no blutooth
360 has no answer for uncharted
360 has no answer for gt5
360 has no answer for rrod

time to JUMP OUT of the sinking ship. xflopspleezfixme : "fission mailed".

it only does EVERYTHING the 360 does and doesnt do, but ps3 does it ALL much better

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5362d ago
D4RkNIKON5363d ago

Haha woo hoo! Sony is awake, now they just need to run those ads like theres no TOMORROW!

neonlight455362d ago

Yeah, and none of those extremely weird ads

The_Beast5363d ago (Edited 5363d ago )

Elite at 99.99$ and pro at 49.99$

Rockstar5363d ago

@ that price I'd grab 2 (elites)

Shadow0175363d ago

Ya I agree just drop the price to 99.99$ already.

Godmars2905363d ago (Edited 5363d ago )

Only they ship w/o HDD, which now cost $500.

patterson5363d ago

lol that would be a good deal but after a few years of paying for LIVE you're right back where you started xD

Obama5363d ago

I can find a better deal for a heater nowadays.

Insomnia_845363d ago

They will start giving Elites with Happy Meals!!

54percent5363d ago

people needs cheap heathers

36T5362d ago (Edited 5362d ago )

LMAO.. wow you people are sad. I hope you all feel better now. Sleep tight tonight! Don't forget to put the Slim under your pillow for added comfort. i LOVE N4G! lol

Has the thought of writing positive comments about the PS3 Slim in the PS3 section ever crossed your minds? Some of you spend all your time on N4G in 360 articles. Why?

talltony5362d ago

Both consoles are the same price for once yet people have chosen to buy the ps3 instead. The only lead the 360 has is its year head start without any competition.

36T5362d ago

Good point Talltony. Considering that the Xbox 360 has full of hardware problems and they're tied with the monster that PlayStation is/was, is a huge success for MS. Wouldn't you agree?

talltony5362d ago

Yes good point i would agree actually considering they are microsoft and they have made a fairly defective console this gen. They made the xbox into a houshold name now so that I will give them credit for.

TheOutsider5362d ago

Winter is coming!! I'll get Two for a heater for my rooms! HA!

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 5362d ago
Show all comments (162)
140°

Price Reductions Available Now on the Digital Xbox 360 Store - Closing July 29, 2024

Xbox 360 launched 18 years ago and was a generation-defining console that invited many people to jump into gaming for the first time and connect with friends around the world. We’re thrilled people continue playing their favorite Xbox 360 games on Xbox 360, or on newer consoles via Backward Compatibility for supported titles.

Read Full Story >>
news.xbox.com
Einhander19721h ago

"we believe in game preservation"

Remember the media reaction when PlayStation wanted to shut down the PS3 store (but then kept it open)... where is that reaction here?

CrimsonWing691h ago

What are you asking? Like, if people got pissed at Sony for that? Because they did. We also got pissed at Nintendo when they did it.

You’re getting a chance to buy what you want before they close it. Moving forward digital stores should work like Steam. It’s just in this beginning they made it platform specific and closed off. A hindsight in their part and it sucks, but what is the percentage of people buying anything off these stores and what is the cost to keep the servers up?

I get it and yes making strives so this isn’t the case every gen we go into is absolutely a must. I mean PSN on PS3 is so convoluted to buy anything since you can’t use a credit card. Vita store is gone. It’s going to go away eventually.

Einhander197242m ago

"What are you asking? Like, if people got pissed at Sony for that? Because they did. We also got pissed at Nintendo when they did it."

My point is when PlayStation did this every website under the sun was writing articles talking about how "anti-consumer" it was yet I haven't seen anything like that happening when it's xbox doing it, in fact mostly what I see is praise from media when xbox makes obviously false claims about game preservation while they close down their store and xblig and push for digital only consoles streaming and subscriptions.

What I am asking is for everyone to be criticized or praised equally.

I mean look at the way the PS5 Slim's detachable disk drive was reported, it was super critical. Even though in reality they made it easier for people who initially buy a digital only console to move to physical, it was actually a step away from digital only. But did it get reported like that at all... no.

And you can still buy stuff on PlayStation you just need to add money to your account on the website or a PS4/5.

Tacoboto32m ago

That reaction isn't here because you can still play Xbox 360 discs of supported BC titles on Series and Xbox One, and you can still buy BC titles on the current Xbox Store.

It still sucks losing access to non-BC titles but don't act like it's the same situation. Let me know when PS5 actually supports my PS3 library.

Einhander197224m ago(Edited 21m ago)

How are you going to play those discs on your Series S (which 75% of xbox owners have) or your adorably all digital Series X?

And keep in mind that BC on xbox is an extremely limited selection of games, it's less than 25% of retail releases, and way less than the entire catalogue.

It's not a solution for the future, this isn't how "game preservation" looks, it's the fake PR that makes it that much worse.

Tacoboto15m ago

I'm not getting an all digital Series X so bark up someone else's tree, creep. I have my Series X for that disc support and functioning old hardware I still buy discs for (Bought Sudeki, Super Paper Mario, and 3D Dot Game Heroes a few months back - one for each old platform).

Fact is there's a mechanism that exists for Xbox OG and 360 BC physically and digitally. PS has none for PS1 or 2 or 3. If you're gonna bring PS into an Xbox article, at least know what you're talking about.

darthv724m ago

The PS3 situation may have something to do with no forward way to play those games on newer hardware. Not to mention the PS3 store has been around far less than the 360 store. 360 store closing was expected and they did a pretty good job making many of its digital games forward compatible with XBO and subsequently the Series as well. Ones they could not come to an agreement with are going to be left behind, but here is your chance for last minute deals for you to continue playing on your 360.

Just because the 360 store closes doesnt make all of those games you have (digital/physical) stop working on real 360 hardware. If people have physical 360 games, chances are they also have the means to play them. Just like People with PS3 games having a PS3. It would be nice if all older games worked on newer hardware... but that is not for us to decide, that is for MS, Sony and Nintendo.

1Victor1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

RIP Xbox 360 digital store and all its games.
It really grinds my gears that they are waiting till 10 days before closing to give the best discounts and the list as of now is 100 or less titles from the massive 360 library

Phoenix761h ago(Edited 1h ago)

I should have enough points by the weekend to get £25 credit off MS, (hardly ever spend money on xb1), might look at a few of these.

DivineHand1251h ago

The Xbox 360 store was one of the only advantages the Xbox Series consoles had over the PS5. When I got my series X, I spent more playing Xbox 360 games vs current-gen Xbox games since that was the golden era for Xbox and several titles had enhancements such as 4k resolution and fps boost.

Closing this store will now only benefit the competition.

VersusDMC41m ago

The xbox360 store is closing on the xbox 360.

Xbox 360 games are unaffected on the xbox one and series consoles.

Einhander197217m ago

"Xbox will stop supporting the ability to purchase new games, DLC, and other entertainment content from the Xbox 360 Store on the console ->and the Xbox 360 Marketplace (marketplace.xbox.com).<-&q uot;

You will not be able to purchase any 360 games. You will only be able to play xbox discs if you have a console that support discs which doesn't look great for the future of xbox, if it has one.

110°

7 Deserving Games That Never Got Backward Compatibility

Backward compatibility works for many games on newer consoles, but titles such as The Simpsons: Hit and Run have been left out.

90°

20 Best Survival Games of All Time

From base building to swinging willies, here are the best survival games around, which include a couple of less than obvious picks.

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culturedvultures.com
Vader823d ago

No 7 days to die is criminal