Bloomberg reports that since Microsoft introduced the price drop to its Xbox 360 console range, sales have doubled compared to that of last weekend. Not only for the Arcade console which now retails at $199.00, but for the Pro and Elite consoles as well.
When we previously speculated that the price drop would boost sales, many stated that the price point is not important enough to make a significant difference to consumers purchasing decision.
Well the numbers are clearly stating the opposite, with the sales boost being more than significant and also putting a Microsoft console at a lower price point that the Nintendo Wii for the first time.
Is the PS3 in trouble?
While the Nintendo Wii is still the definite leader in the console wars and ahead by miles, the fight for second place as the best selling HD console still continues between the PS3 and the Xbox 360.
If the boost brought about by the price drop continues into the Christmas season, Microsoft can look forward to a whole lot of sales. At the same time the PS3 has been outselling the Xbox 360 for a couple of months now and its lineup is looking incredibly appealing to say the least, not to mention all the families who may be interested in a new Blu-Ray player for the house.
The upcoming season is going to be a real fight to the death as the two console manufacturers go head to head for market supremacy.
source: Bloomberg
Last Updated: September 11, 2008
Banana hammock
September 11, 2008 at 09:03
Meh, we’ve seen this with every big game release and price drop for both the 360 and PS3, in 2 weeks the numbers will be back where they were.
Also, don’t forget that for the last few weeks the 360 has been selling poorly in the US, averaging 50,000 units a week against PS3’s 70,000. So for it to double sales for a couple of weeks in it’s main territory means zip.
It needs sustain this level for it to be meaningful.
Zubs
September 11, 2008 at 10:09
360 is outdated technology ..yawn…being replaced in 2 years whilst the PS3 powerhouse continues to 2018.Cell Processors and Blue Ray FTW!
SlippyMadFrog
September 11, 2008 at 10:38
🙄
So sony won’t release another console until 2018? Do you think they will be able to implement 4D in the PS3 by then?
abe
September 11, 2008 at 10:41
Did it outsell the PS3 though?
ewie
September 11, 2008 at 10:53
O yeah – and by that thime install would be the whole 50 GB because the drive speed could not cope anymore.
BHW
September 11, 2008 at 11:19
The sales for the xbox has been poor the last couple of weeks – but to be fair the pricecut was probably the worse kept secret since Elton John came out the closet. Why would you buy something if you knew the price was coming down ?
xyber
September 11, 2008 at 11:40
I read in another article that the info comes from an email MS send Bloomberg. Also, think about it, everyone that knew the price drop was comming would have waited for it, so they kinda just made up for the loss in sales for past few weeks that people did not buy?
Nick
September 11, 2008 at 11:48
Yeah you could be 100%. We will see what the sales really look like after a short while. It could just be a small sales boost and nothing long term.
Lupus
September 11, 2008 at 12:54
I’m still not seeing why anyone wants to buy the Wii, especially in this country where it is retailing for R3200 and the 360 Arcade is going for R2000?
Nick
September 11, 2008 at 13:25
Yeah the local Wii Price is actually ridiculous.
ocelot
September 11, 2008 at 13:38
Because people that buy Wii’s are not gamers, they just sheep that want to be cool.
Nduimiso
September 11, 2008 at 13:58
haha, yeah continue into 2018, just like the backwards compatability, 1080p graphics………oh wait.
Jinja
September 11, 2008 at 14:49
Is the price-cut coming to SA?
Cos then I’ll get a 360 just for Fable 2 and GoW2…
Oh and Castle Crashers.
But, I hope this price-cut leads to a Price cut for Sony.
Lupus
September 11, 2008 at 14:55
Problem is it is still being bought, my girlfriend got one when it was still R2600 and even then I was like what?R600 for this piece of crap, in the entire time she has had that console she has bought 6 games, I’ve had 12 360 games.
Rudolph
September 11, 2008 at 15:40
hehehe 😀
SlippyMadFrog
September 11, 2008 at 16:13
In all fairness, the Wii looks fun to non-gamers who don’t own it. It just gets old real quick
Milesh Bhana
September 11, 2008 at 17:55
Wii.. it’s like giving someone super powers and making him retarded. Cool feature, but hardware too dumb to use it properly.
LazySAGamer
September 11, 2008 at 22:00
Highly unlikely as we had our price cut earlier this year and currently fair very well against the US price
$199 = R1 597.97 and our pre-tax price is R1 719.14.
So the best we could hope for is a R100 price drop…