Well, it looks like Nintendo will be the only one lowering their console price this fall.....

Microsoft has announced that its pricing plan for Xbox will follow that of Sony and its industry leading PS2 - not Nintendo's GameCube. This statement comes on the heels of GameCube's recent 50 dollar price drop to 99 dollars. Microsoft and Sony currently have no plans to cut the price of their respective systems - but are instead offering game and hardware bundles. Microsoft also announced that Yoshihiro Maruyama has joined its ranks as general manager of its Xbox business in Japan. Maruyama had formerly been a part of the U.S. subsidiary of Square-Enix.

Source: Avault


The XBox is already losing money at it's current price so lowering it even further wouldn't be a smart move. I think Sony would benefit by lowering it's price to $149.99...it's been out long enough and at this stage it's starting to lose steam.

I think the wording of the article is a little funny. I can't really believe that execs at MS made a statement that said "We're following Sony's lead; if they're not going to lower their price, we won't either".

Great news for Nintendo... not so great for those of us considering jumping on the X-Box bandwagon this year.

Hopefully some more enticing bundles will come out around Thanksgiving, hmmm?

Clone War isn't exciting enough for you?

Head to Wal Mart. You won't get a better bundle this year than that.

Like I said in another post, Microsoft views Sony as their only competitor, and vice versa. Who cares if the Xbox only has a slight edge over the Gamecube. Software companies see it as an Xbox/PS2 console war as well, that's why they keep dropping their support of the Gamecube.

If Sony drops the price of the PS2, Microsoft will drop its price, and vice versa. No one wants to lose momentum going into the next generation of consoles.

Jeremy

I totally agree. I just don't think they are likely to put out a press release saying that they make every important business decision based on what Sony is doing, even if it's true.

There's a CLONE WARS bundle!?!? Woooo HoooOOOo!!

I'm actually waiting for some sort of Tetris bundle, but it's probably never gonna happen... ah well

I suggest to go ahead and get the Xbox bundle now in time for Halo 2.

Based on my gaming expertise, I still think there will be a price drop. Dont they always deny there will be one up until the price drops hits us?

Hey cheapskate, I think there is a tetris bundle with mechassault, don't quote me on that, but I think it's here somewhere.

I thought it was Tetris/Clone Wars or MechAssault/Splinter Cell.

Considering that I just bought an X-box over a month ago (thus no price adjustment) I'd be tickled if there wasn't another drop this years.

Hehe I'm with ya on that one, man! I picked up mine in August for $179.99 it would suck if they had dropped it to around $149.99 for Holiday sales.....for us anyways.

Hah...yeah that was just my weak attempt at a joke, since one of the current bundles is actually the Tetris/Clone Wars deal...

So is this prompting anyone to purchase a GameCube instead? With the $80 price difference I'm considering it myself... I currently own a PS2 but... y'know... I'm open minded

I can reccomend a Gamecube. At $99, it's a no brainer

I will buy my Xbox when the price is reduced further......

It is good to know if my cube breaks....I can replace it rather cheaply.

Why would a price drop be considered losing momentum? I would be surprised if MS sold more X-Boxes this Christmas than Gamecubes.

I already have a GC and PS2. I would have seriously considered picking up an X-Box if they had dropped the price.

On the other hand, for $99 the Gamecube is a steal, especially if you enjoy thier first party games.

Hmm... Just gave in and got an Xbox last week, when I finally found a Walmart with the bundle in stock. But I'm wondering why Blockbuster lowered their prices so early? The Blockbuster nearby has Xboxes and PS2s for 150, Gamecubes for 100 for a month or so. When I was looking last week, they didn't have any, but they were getting them regularly (they weren't just stock they were trying to get rid of). I wonder if they'll jack the price back up since a price change isn't coming soon...

Sorry, I was misunderstood. When I said no one wants to lose momentum, that meant one won't let the other drop in price alone. A $150 PS2 would make me forget all about my $180 Xbox, and vice versa.

I'll bet the GC and Xbox numbers through the holiday season will be about equal, if not the Xbox gaining a slight lead.

Jeremy

Obviously we're all just speculating, but why would you bet that?

I was thinking cube may take the lead this holiday with FFCC, Viewtiful Joe, Mario Kart, and the price drop. And when the majority of Xbox consumers learn that Halo 2 is another year off and there has been no price reduction, they may be temped to grab a $99 cube.

But Final Fantasy Crystal Cronicles needs gba's to play multiplayer. I think thats going to turn a lot of gamers off. Even though it works as a solo too.

The gamecube price drop isn't that much of a deal to be honest. I know its 99, but the xbox bundle, for example, is 179.99 and comes with two games and two months of xbox live. And if you buy live you get a game included too. As much as I hate to give old evil microsoft any credit they seem to be doing a decent job.

The ps2 has been out a year longer then the xbox and isn't in some sort of bundle like the xbox is and its just as expensive. They really need to do a price drop. Maybe sony has something planned.