Circuit City spills all the Xbox 360 price cut beans

And so we've come full circle. After accurately predicting that $100 PS3 price drop a few weeks back, Circuit City is back in the rumor game with a flyer that seems to confirm the $50 price cut for the Xbox 360, and even tosses in some info on price breaks for the Elite and Core systems. According to the flyer, on August 12th the 360 Premium will dip to $350, and include a copy of Rockstar's "Table Tennis," while the Elite will raid your wallet for $450 -- a $30 reduction -- and include zero free games. Finally, the Xbox 360 Core will get $20 lopped off, and sell for $280, which might be the end of the road for the stripped down console once stock runs out.

[Thanks, Sam]

[Matthew @ Jul 31st 2007 2:14PM]

Seems fair and interesting will bet that this is the first of a 2 step price cut process by MS

[Karl @ Jul 31st 2007 2:14PM]

If the Core was getting removed, I'd expect a much bigger price drop. Because that would help plant a large hardware install base, and be temporary enough to not cause such a big hit in profits.

[Humongousick @ Jul 31st 2007 2:18PM]

On Aug 12, I will finally own a 360. Can resist no longer, and this is just the icing on the cake.

[HektikLyfe @ Jul 31st 2007 3:12PM]

You would do yourself a favor to wait for just a little while longer. Trust me. Wait until they roll out the cooler running 65nm chips.

[andy @ Jul 31st 2007 3:27PM]

I'm with you hekticlife.

65nm and halo3 YES!

[Tim @ Jul 31st 2007 2:22PM]

Well, for those looking for a deal, get a 360 at Best Buy now and be ready to grab an ad for a 110% price match in a few weeks.

Might as well save a few extra bucks, yeah?

[David S @ Jul 31st 2007 3:09PM]

Well, you'll miss out on the free video game if you are interested in the Premium if you do that. Best Buy won't price match with a free game.

[NoFanboyHere @ Jul 31st 2007 2:24PM]

Bad move by Microsoft. I feel like the Elite should have been dropped to 399.
The Premium at 349 is alright but the Core is pointless and should be discontinued.

I returned my Premium via Best Buy Replacement for a $428 Gift Card. Went and got a Brand New PS3 60Gb for $425 out the door.

I love Xbox but how can I justify an Elite @ $450+Tax after a deal like that!

[shamrock593 @ Jul 31st 2007 2:27PM]

Dude, who cares if it was a bad move for Microsoft, we get the console cheaper!! ;-)

[Matthew @ Jul 31st 2007 2:28PM]

Just a question, but how did you get a 60 GB PS3 for $425 out the door from BestBuy just curious because I thought that they were $499

[Ray-- @ Jul 31st 2007 2:59PM]

maybe he means $425 after he used his $428 gift card as well... so like ~850 ;) He maybe bought all 10 games...

[Mark @ Jul 31st 2007 3:53PM]

You're all mistaken - he got a special discount. The five-finger type ;).

[John @ Jul 31st 2007 2:26PM]

BOOM!

PS3 market implodes.

[Rob @ Jul 31st 2007 2:47PM]

There's no implosion going on at all. The PS3 will do quite well this holiday season. Once the games start to come out. Then the real fun will begin. Besides, if you take the time to compare the XBox 360 with the PS3 feature by feature, you'd realize that the PS3 is a much better deal for your money.

I for one would never buy the Xbox 360.

By the way, leaving all silliness aside, why is the Xbox 360 called that? I'm serious. Why "360"? Is that as in 360 degrees? Because that will bring back right were you started. Not a smart choice for a name. It'd be as silly as Nintendo's "Wii"

[Miles @ Jul 31st 2007 3:07PM]

I still don't think people will want to shell out $500 for a shitty console that has tons of features no one cares about.

[Martez @ Jul 31st 2007 4:09PM]

Probably "runs circles around the competition" or something like that. Or some bigwig thought it sounded cool.

[PS3guy @ Jul 31st 2007 3:36PM]

Anyones want to buy mine, I'm selling my 360 for $100.

[Big Win @ Jul 31st 2007 3:39PM]

Lol,I'll buy it!!! ;)

[Christopher Hager @ Jul 31st 2007 2:49PM]

Let the price wars begin.

[Civisi @ Jul 31st 2007 2:35PM]

Oooh. Nice idea on the Best Buy thing, but that's only $3 extra that you'd get back.

$399 is my buying point for the Elite. Maybe $420. Couple that with the HD-DVD drive and 5 free HD-DVD movies and it's a really good deal. But the truth of the matter is that I don't have $550 to spend on this kind of stuff.

[Robert @ Aug 6th 2007 1:32AM]

but then, even with the price of the elite being 399, you have to factor in the HD-DVD drive (179.99) and the Wifi Adapter (99.99), which brings us to 680.
and remember, the ps3 qualifies for 5 free bluray, also.
Not saying ones better than the other. Hell, I have both myself. just pointing out that in the ned, if you want the full experience, you're gonna pay for it. Be that upfront, or with accessories, thats up to you.

[Doc @ Jul 31st 2007 2:47PM]

the core should have gotten the same $50 off hell all the systems should have recieved the same treatment IMO...$100 is the range that they should have shot for

[peshue @ Jul 31st 2007 2:51PM]

It's nice that they did a price cut. I'm not buying till they roll out the 65nm chips though.

[clads01 @ Jul 31st 2007 2:53PM]

Good news, but I'm holding out for the 65 nm, code-named 'Falcon' units.

[John @ Aug 2nd 2007 1:20PM]

Meanwhile back at the SonyDome....


It's still 700 bucks right?

No thanks. EVER.

[Mike Holzapfel @ Jul 31st 2007 3:35PM]

I second that. Why buy the system now? Wait two more months. I get the $30 (Elite) price drop PLUS the cooler running CPU/GPU.

Oh.....


AND HALO 3!!!!

[chadow @ Jul 31st 2007 2:57PM]

Nothing better than a good old fashioned console price war, thats for sure. It beats the hell out of a format war any day....well, until THAT becomes a price war.

If I were on the fence about these systems, I would have to say these new prices and the exclusives: Halo3, Bioshock, and Left4Dead would be all the convincing I would need. Now if I walked into the store and the PS3 was $399, I would definitely hesitate...but we all know the PS3 isn't going to keep up with the 360 price drops.

[LJKelley @ Jul 31st 2007 3:02PM]

Big mistake in the core not going down to $249!!

[db26 @ Jul 31st 2007 3:02PM]

$30 off and no free game with the Elite? Lame.

Effectively, the elite costs $120 more than premium, and frankly, it just isn't worth that much more. If I get a 360, it will be the elite... but not for $120 more. I'll wait for another price drop. Or at least 65nm.

[sr @ Jul 31st 2007 8:19PM]

My sentiments exactly. I would have done $429 but I won't do $449 just on principle.

[Miles @ Jul 31st 2007 3:04PM]

OH WOW $50!

WHAT A PRICE DROP

[Miles @ Jul 31st 2007 3:04PM]

OH WOW $50!

WHAT A PRICE DROP

[Miles @ Jul 31st 2007 3:15PM]

Engadget what's up with the commenting system?

[chadow @ Jul 31st 2007 3:30PM]

Engadget, whats up with Miles still being allowed to post anything on this site?

[Phil @ Jul 31st 2007 4:30PM]

i have a PS3, the best system ever. the only way i'd get ANY 360 is if it was $199.99. i guess eBay might have something though. 360 is WORST SYSTEM EVER!! on the today show on nbc, even al roker said it was being recalled. muwahh!!

[Matthew @ Jul 31st 2007 6:37PM]

Notice how you are the lowest ranked, obviously the 360 has its problems but it does have what gaming systems are supposed to have, GREAT GAMES, they have addressed the hardware issues, and if you believe anything Al Roker says then you are a complete idiot

[WiFiSpy @ Jul 31st 2007 3:11PM]

The PS3 has no answer for Halo 3...

[CharlieX @ Jul 31st 2007 3:11PM]

Let's see: $139 paid to MS for out of warranty repairs 12 weeks ago...2 Xbox's DOA in that time.... Might as well get my money back, buy a core, slap my hard drive on it, and get a new 360 for $140.

[chadow @ Jul 31st 2007 3:29PM]

How are you out of warranty? Have I been in a comma or did 3 years pass since Xbox 360 came out?

Last I heard, after MS announced the extension in the warranty, they are also paying back costs customers may have paid prior to that when they were told they were out of warranty.

[CharlieX @ Jul 31st 2007 3:32PM]

I had a failed DVD drive... which isn't covered under their new extended warranty.

[chadow @ Jul 31st 2007 4:23PM]

Well that sucks, man. I'm sorry :(

[HektikLyfe @ Jul 31st 2007 3:16PM]

Fanboys are funny.

As if the PS3 is the most creative console name you've ever heard. LOL.

I have all three systems and I enjoy them equally. Marketing and advertisement for all three suck horribly and I would die for none.

The fanboy era is long gone. Come join adulthood children.

[acadiaN_ @ Jul 31st 2007 4:27PM]

It's a good move but like a lot of people who know they are coming out with the 65nm chipset, I will wait a bit more. Here is my prediction...

Right now M$ is making a little profits with the xbox and they would like to keep it that way for as long as they can with the huge losses they had due to the red rings.

So for now they will price drop it to get rid of their 90nm stock so they can make room for their new 65nm when it comes out during the holidays and BAMMMM major price drop (like another 50 bucks at least) and let the Price war Begin!

I myself will wait until the Halo theme xbox 360 comes out cause if you think about it, the best time to get the falcon chipset would be in the Halo 360.

The falcon chipset + the adm card should make the built cost of the 360 go down by 50%.

Buy the X360 now if you wish but I want to make sure it will be better and cheaper than it is now!!

PS: I think the PS3 is a good deal but its out of my budget for now....maybe next holiday season...

[alexhrose71 @ Jul 31st 2007 4:07PM]

Good move MS. Now you have a 360 with a better game lineup, better third party games and better online for $100 less than the remaining PS3 stock, and $200 less than the PS3 stock that will be on the shelves in the run up to the holidays.

You can get a core for close to the same price point as the Wii. They could have discounted it further but I doubt they care, it looks very much like the core is on the way out for the US market at least.

I wouldn't wait too long for the 65nm chipset as 1. It could already be in there and 2. They already improved the cooling system to cut down on RROD issues

I doubt they cut prices on existing 80 ? nm chips which are more costly to make, its quite probable that this price drop is in parallel with the roll-out of the new chipset. They're not going to put **NEW 65nm Chips !!!** on the box now are they ?

It'll be interesting to see if Wii is selling on price advantage alone and if this cuts into Wii sales (I don't think so) or if Wii is really a totally different market and continues as is (my thoughts).

[alexhrose71 @ Jul 31st 2007 4:10PM]

On and the PS3-fanboi asking about "360" - it really is a reference to the 360 as a convergence device, the center of your entertainment :

-Hardcore games
-Casual games
-Music (PC streamed or from CD)
-Moviews (PC streamed or from DVD or from HD-DVD or from video marketplace)
-Xbox live and the community with friends and online perpetual presence, even in single player games

Of course, if you haven't owned a 360 you won't know what the **** I'm talking about.

[Reluctant Hero @ Jul 31st 2007 4:27PM]

IF my current Xbox 360 premium keeps having issues, I may have to invest in an Elite now. $450 is much better than $480.

[Zombie Dog @ Jul 31st 2007 4:48PM]

If you're considering the purchase of a videogame console to be an investment, you'll be sorely disappointed. I seriously doubt you'll ever get any return for your money, other than a few years of gaming fun. In fact, you'll end up spending way more time and money on the XBox360 than you would have without owning the console in the first place.

I love me some videogames, but I'd never consider the ownership of any of my consoles as an investment. More of a time and money pit.

[KML @ Jul 31st 2007 4:42PM]

Anyone at all know why they didn't capitalize on the name and set the price at $360.00?

[GRC @ Jul 31st 2007 5:40PM]

Woohooo now bring on the Europe Price Drop!!!

[Schamsen @ Jul 31st 2007 6:02PM]

i think the 50$ off is a joke, 150$ difference to the ps3 is imho too less