Microsoft to bring out Xbox 360 before Xmas, priced at £209/$299 |
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Thu, 18 Aug 2005 16:05
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LEIPZIG, Germany: Microsoft is pricing its new Xbox 360 game console at a £209/$299 retail. The gadget will be available in the U.S. market well in time for the Christmas, the company announced at the German Games Convention here.
Microsoft, in competition with Sony and Nintendo to reach its new console in the market, said it will carry a price of 299 euros in Europe and 209 pounds in the U.K. The accessories will be priced separately. While this will be a core version, which will have a DVD player, three processors and media chips that allow high-definition images and surround sound, an expensive version is also being brought out costing $399 (279 pounds). This version provides for a 20GB hard drive, wireless controller, headset and remote control.
Sony is expected to bring out its PlayStation 3 in spring while Nintendo's Revolution is expected to hit the market early 2006.
Microsoft's head of home entertainment in Europe, Chris Lewis, who announced the pricing, said the company will decide on the price of the gadget for the key Japanese market next month when the Tokyo games fair is on.
The gadget will be released in the three territories -- the U.S., Europe and Japan -- simultaneously, the company said.
Analysts following the gadgets said Sony's PlayStation 3 will include state-of-the-art processors and DVD players. However, it may cost more than the $399 fixed by Microsoft.
Sony has been making profit from its PlayStation division, while Microsoft incurred a loss of $2.8 billion in its Xbox division in the last three years. Microsoft hopes to generate profit for the division with the upgrade in fiscal 2007. The company is also planning to capitalise on its Xbox Live online gaming service, which charges a monthly subscription.
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