Microsoft confirms Xbox 360 price drop

Microsoft has confirmed it will drop the price of all three versions of its Xbox 360 console in the UK and Europe from Friday.

Following the games industry's prediction last week that Microsoft would drop the price later this month, the Xbox 360 manufacturer has now officially confirmed the news.

The move will see the entry level Xbox 360 Arcade system undergo a £40 price cut as the machine drops from £199.99 to £159.99

The mid-priced Xbox 360 Pro, which features a 20Gb hard drive and one wireless controller, will fall from £249.99 to £199.99.

And the top-of-the-range Xbox 360 Elite, known for its HDMI port, will see its price drop from £299.99 to £259.99.

“This is a real mass market entertainment proposition,” VP of Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Europe Chris Lewis told MCV. “Through this price point, we can reach and introduce a much broader array of consumers to hi-def gaming. With 17.7 million units worldwide installed base we’ve got a real level of momentum – and Europe is a critical geography in that.

“We’ve always had a strategy that said we had to secure the core gamers in the first instance. Having done so and performed in a way we’re very proud of with our core content, such as Halo 3 and BioShock, with record-setting attach rates, it’s time to widen the net even further.

“But we’re not moving away from the core gamer. We’re really excited about our lineup in 2008. There's GTA IV, with the exclusive content you can only get on 360, Fable 2, which I’ve seen and looks simply stunning, and plenty more besides.

"Then, of course, there’s Gears Of War 2 this Christmas, which promises to be a real defining moment for the industry.”

> Click here for our guide to the Xbox 360