Microsoft prices Xbox 360

 

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Posted on 18 Aug 2005 at 12:53

No dates, but prices have been revealed for Microsoft's next-generation Xbox games console, the 360.

Prices for the 'Core' system start at £209.99 for the UK, €299.99 for Europe and $299.99 for the USA. For those of you concerned about cross Atlantic pricing schemes, this translates - on a dollar basis - into a cost of $377 for the UK and $368 for Europe. It appears the UK gamer is once again paying a price premium compared to our continental cousins.

The core system includes a wired Controller (on a nine-foot cable), the standard 'chill' white faceplate that can be swapped for customisation, and a standard AV Cable. With a built-in Ethernet port and a 'Silver level of service' out of the box, Xbox 360 will also connect players to the existing Xbox Live online gaming network.

Prices will increase depending on accessories bundled. The Xbox 360 list comprises: a 64MB Memory Unit (£22.99), a Wireless Controller (£32.99), a Play & Charge Kit (£14.99), a Rechargeable battery pack (£9.99), a Wireless Networking Adapter (£59.99), a Headset (£14.99), a Universal Media Remote (£19.99), a S-Video AV Cable (£17.99), and a VGA HD AV Cable (£19.99).

A Premium edition of the console, costing £279.99, includes a 20GB detachable hard disk.

'The sheer entertainment value of Xbox 360 cannot be overstated,' enthused Robbie Bach, chief Xbox officer for Microsoft. 'While the system has the muscle to power awe-inspiring graphics, audio and online play, it's also got the intelligence to serve as a one-of-a-kind entertainment device that plays CDs, DVDs, MP3s and digital content from an array of devices, including portable music players and digital cameras.'

No launch date for the console has been quoted, but Microsoft said it will be available ready for Christmas. This will be 'several months ahead of the competition' Microsoft confidently declared in the announcement, referring to Sony's long-awaited PlayStation 3.

Talking of Sony, details for the Japan Xbox launch will be announced at the Tokyo Game Show in September, but Microsoft is declaring the three-region simultaneous launch as an industry first.

The announcement was made yesterday at the German Games Convention in Leipzig.