Microsoft Lowers Price of Xbox 360

Microsoft confirmed today that the Xbox 360 Pro (which is now being referred to simply as the Xbox 360 by MS) will get a $50 price cut, selling for $349.99 at US retail markets starting August 8. The Elite and Core Xbox 360 SKU’s will also both receive a price adjustment starting August 8, albeit smaller; The Elite will go down $30, selling for $449.99, while the Core will go down $20 to $279.99.

The Xbox 360 Pro (formerly $399.99) features a 20GB hard drive, wireless controller, Xbox 360 headset, and more. The Xbox 360 Core System (previously $299) now has a price of $279.99. The Xbox 360 Core comes with a wired controller and no HDD or headset.
The 120GB hard drive equipped Xbox 360 Elite (previously $479) will now be priced at $449.99. The Xbox 360 Elite is also black and features HDMI out.

But oh how fast things change—in the September issue (#74) of Official Xbox Magazine (OXM) John Rodman, senior product manager for Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE denied suspicions of a late summer price cut saying, “Right now [we have] no plans to reduce the prices of Xbox 360.”
It was only a matter of time though as leaked advertising from Wal Mart, Toys R Us and Circuit City began to surface last month showing evidence of a price drop.

The price cut will hit retail roughly a week before Madden NFL 08 hits store shelves and nearly a month before the release of Halo 3, both of which Microsoft knows will be major system sellers.

Last but not least is the Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition Console which will hit store shelves in September with a price of $399.99. The Halo 360 features a Spartan green-and-gold finish, matching Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 20GB hard drive, Xbox 360 Headset, an Xbox 360 Play and Charge Kit, but most importantly, full HDMI capability. Halo 3 is sold seperately.