Microsoft hacks $100 off the Xbox 360 in Canada

With all the price cutting that's been going on here in the US, it's no surprise that our allies to the north are seeing drops of their own on the Xbox 360. According to Microsoft, Canadians scouting one of its consoles can now snag the Premium package for $399.99 CDN, the Core for $299.99 CDN, or the Elite for $499.99 CDN. Notably, those who have an unhealthy appetite for all things Halo can look for the Halo 3-themed iteration to land next month for a respectable $449.99 CDN. So there ya have it Canucks, now don't say Redmond isn't lookin' out for you, too.

[Thanks, Matt]

[Stephen Galinsky @ Aug 7th 2007 10:56PM]

Meanwhile, still no release date for the Elite in Australia, and no price drops. Wheeeee....

[kingofwale @ Aug 7th 2007 10:55PM]

after overpricing us for YEARS (paying 499/470 Canadians/US) for xbox, now it's only coming to par with what our neighbour's paying.

[optimistik @ Aug 7th 2007 11:14PM]

If you were smart you wouldn't pay that much. I got my Xbox360 boxing day 2006 for $400 with GRAW, the arcade games disc, and GOW.

[michael @ Aug 7th 2007 11:39PM]

I hate to say this, but maybe it's because Canada has a better standard of living up there? You guys are more healthier, live longer, so you probably get paid more. Which means that products will cost more there. Like lots of other products I've seen with the Canadian price higher.

It's amazing how such a bigger country can have a better standard of living. But that's what it is.

Same rules apply to Asia. They have a lower standard of living compared to us, and to us Americans, things are real cheap there. It's just the way the economy works.

That's what I learned, am I not right?

[Chuckles McGee @ Aug 7th 2007 11:44PM]

Well doncha know, eh! The pucks in our court now!

[Mark @ Aug 8th 2007 9:31PM]

@michael - Uhm... buddy you're wrong. Americans have the highest GDP per capita out of the G8. They also have the highest GDP per capita of any country with a population > 10 million. So no. Before taxes our salaries are on average 5-10% lower than yours, and then after the government rips in and takes something ungodly like 40-45% of our salaries (income tax), we're not left with very much at all. That's called "socialism". And trust me, it bites.

[Taylor @ Aug 18th 2007 2:08AM]

W00t 500 for an elite?
I'm so there

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Aug 7th 2007 11:07PM]

Microsoft hacks $100 off the XBOX meanwhile Soviet Russia Hacks Microsoft.....





(BOOOO!)

[Will @ Aug 7th 2007 11:24PM]

Regardless of pricing and/or fair conversion rates, it's nice to see both the 360 and PS3 start coming down in price. Personally, it's still a bit high for me to buy in (after all, regardless of home much either is billed as a media centre, they're just game systems to me); but it looks like we're on our way. I predict either modest cuts or more gear packed in with both systems for Christmas.

[Geoff @ Aug 7th 2007 11:27PM]

Its called crappy US economy and high canadian dollar, microsoft did nothing for us canucks as usual, oh wait a handicapped xbox live now thats doing something for us. In reality we have over paid for along time for stuff when our dollar has been high for 2 yrs MS has made more then they deserve in canada so its about time we get some fair pricing now if our cellphone companies could see this we'd be laughing!

[lompocus @ Aug 8th 2007 2:33AM]

No, its called the United States having a military to defend and rent out to Canada, having Canada protected by OUR missile defense system (i've seen it, I live in lompoc, right next to VAFB. There's missile silos with these all up and down the coast. any person with half a brain can find these everywhere on google earth). It's because you guys benefit from trade with us :D.

Plus, we get to make fun of you and you make fun of us! And our economy isn't failing. a 5% decrease over the past several years does not mean a failing economy of death and destruction.

Besides, the premium still costs a good $70 more up in Canada. The Canadian dollar is still a **** of a lot more expensive up there...AND we get forza 2 packaged in as a combo, while you guys don't!

[chad @ Aug 8th 2007 10:54AM]

Regardless, he was correct about better quality of life. Better QoL, better healthcare, longer life expectancy, less pollution, less debt, MUCH lower crime, etc.; probably much better bridges too. Of course, this will only be accentuated if Guliani and/or a few others become the next president. At the U.S.'s current pace, you may find immigrating to Canada will be more like a Mexican immigrating to the U.S., in years to come.

[Mark @ Aug 8th 2007 12:52PM]

I don't think many people will stick around in Canada once they see 50% of their pay taken away by taxes.

[Brandon @ Aug 8th 2007 1:06PM]

lompocus: hold on there. You're sorely misinformed. Our two countries are tied at the hip. The trade is incredibly bilateral. We could easily cripple your economy (at the expense of our own) by shutting off your crude oil, water, and power supplies; of which, we're you're largest suppliers.

And the reasons for us rejecting your missile defense shield are varied, but the most important of which are that a) it doesn't work, and b) we didn't want to further make our country a target to America's vast and ever growing list of enemies. Read: I don't want some hunk of shit Lockheed Martin missile in MY backyard making ME a target of Anti-American sentiment.

Stop thinking the US is the one-all-be-all of the world. Fortress America is no more, like every other country, you're just as much intwined into the fabric of world economies as any other country. And PS the Canadian Dollar is within 10 cents of the US dollar. With the former trending upwards, and the latter trending downwards.

[Penguin Warlord @ Aug 9th 2007 12:01PM]

@ Mark

Why do you appose taxes so much? Without Canadian taxes we would have to be paying like $400 000 for a procedure when it's free in Canada. and the most current rate is that the Canadian dollar sits at 95 cent for every american dollar. However the Canadian dollar has been rising with the American dollar dropping. What most Americans fail to realize is that Canada's low dollar actually benefits our economy. A lower dollar means that it's cheaper for businesses to set up in Canada which creates more Canadian jobs.

P.S. we don't actually get paid more however the wealth in our country is distributed more evenly between the rich and the poor.

P.P.S. Saying Canuck is not racist. Hell, the Vancouver hockey team is called the Canucks.

[chad @ Aug 8th 2007 10:39PM]

Your're right Brandon. I'm in the U.S. and most people here have a false ideology of how great this country of ours is. I think it's instilled in our culture via media for one. We're not omnipotent and the sooner folks realize how much our economy is connected to the rest of the world, the better. For example, I'd guess and say most (not any of you Engadgeters mind you ;) of this country's citizens probably don't realize that our escapade for nothing in Iraq has been entirely funded by Asian dollars (mostly China). On top of that, the Chinese purposely devalue their own currency just to trade competitively with us. We're going down in a shit storm fast and when we do, I'm heading north fast 'eh'. Ron Paul or Kucinich 08 are the only lights in the tunnel that may change this in the foreseeable future I'm afraid.

[chad @ Aug 8th 2007 10:54PM]

"I don't think many people will stick around in Canada once they see 50% of their pay taken away by taxes."

Yeah, maybe for the rich (progressive). More like 37-38% at the high end (fede and provincial) for most middle class folks up to 74k. Only time it creeps to 50% is for 120k+ but you only have to claim 1/2 your capital gains AND you can get a pretty nice credit for public trans. So compare that to apples, $4,220.00 plus 25% of the amount over 30,650 and state tax if you have it, not a huge difference. And for that here, you get high crime rates, collapsing bridges, and through the roof insurance/shitty HMO healthcare? I wouldn't mine spending a few extra dollars if it were reinvested in my community as opposed to absolutely wasting it.

[Lompocus @ Aug 9th 2007 5:54AM]

What do you mean the missile shield didn't work? I FUCKING SAW THE FUCKING MISSILE LAUNCH!

Amazing, isn't it? It worked. A ******* saw it. I live right next to Vandenburg Air Force Base, the other 'fake' missile was basically a piece of led targeted at the ocean 100 miles off of lompoc. I happen to live in Lompoc.

Damn, now i know why you guys spew so much shit!

[geoff @ Aug 9th 2007 11:12AM]

lompcus why are you blogging about missle defense who gives a shit even if the missle lands on your head. You have nothing intelligent to say about the price of the 360 in canada, so quit showing us canadians another reason why americans move to canada like getting a good education in a good public school system. To bad your folks didnt move to canada!

[Hobbes @ Aug 8th 2007 12:55AM]

It still has to come down way more to be competitive. CDN$500 to get the one with HDMI and you still have to shell out another CDN$200 to get the HD-DVD drive. Total CDN$700, which is the real cost if it wants to compete with the CDN$550 PS3 with a built-in blu-ray drive.

I was hoping the price drop would justify getting one, but I'm waiting for a couple more. The total price WITH the HD-DVD drive has to be less than CDN$600.

[Dan @ Aug 8th 2007 1:00AM]

How many Canadians does it take to change a lightbulb?

Eh-t.

I live in Ontario, so no stupid "you Canada-hater" comments please.

[Clark99 @ Aug 8th 2007 1:51AM]

Gad I hate Ontarians...jk, Manitoba right back atcha! :)

[BananaBoat @ Aug 8th 2007 1:43AM]

Why is it that it's politically correct to say Canuck, but if you try to say W**-**** or C**** you get *'d? Seriously. It's ok to be racist when you are talking aboot Canadians? Is it ok, when it's only aboot our neighbors to the North? Isn't it aboot time we all came together in peace and harmony? Atleast this Limey (by race) and Yank (by dwelling thinks so. What do you think ey?

[Brandon @ Aug 9th 2007 12:54AM]

I wouldn't take it offense to being called a Canuck at all. In fact, I'm a Canucks Fan =D. I'd put the pejorative 'Canuck' at par with 'Yank' or 'Yankee'.

[BananaBoat @ Aug 8th 2007 1:45AM]

Oh and I forgot, how much exactly is a Canadian dollar when compared to a US Dollar? I think I speak for each and every Yank when I say that we have zero (and I mean zero) sense of how much other countries money is worth.

[Boobo @ Aug 8th 2007 3:18AM]

The Canadian dollar is floating around 94 cents American, though they say it could reach parity by the end of the year. Thousands of comedians will be out of jobs.

[tiuk @ Aug 8th 2007 3:11AM]

$1 USD is currently about $1.05 CAD.

Nice to see the price drop.

[CraigS @ Aug 8th 2007 5:19AM]

Oi MS! £1 = $2.05

How's about some UK loving?

Still not as bad as a PS3 though. $800+ !? No thanks.

[XblackdemonX @ Aug 8th 2007 5:13PM]

I live in Canada and the Xbox 360 Elite has already been 499$ for months !

[Evan @ Aug 8th 2007 8:57AM]

I'm Canadian. The thing that bugs me far more than the price, is the lack of downloadable video in Canada. I know it has to do with licensing, but it's stupid. DVDs are released in Canada at the same time they are released in the U.S. If they can sell a program on DVD, why can't they sell a download?

[AlexP @ Aug 8th 2007 11:45AM]

Uh, iTunes?

[Sundset @ Aug 8th 2007 6:51PM]

Its a Canadian tax issue, not sure of the details but thats whats making so hard believe it or not.

[kyler @ Aug 8th 2007 7:23PM]

when the movie companies ignore you like that, you really have no other choice but to torrent.

[chad @ Aug 9th 2007 1:39AM]

whattya talking about... you folks have trailer park boys? That show rocks! I'd love to attend a cheeseburger pick with greasy phil collins and the boys @ Sunnyvale. :)

[js @ Aug 8th 2007 10:08AM]

I'm surprised that no one has concluded that the core version is only $10 more expensive than the Wii.

Who's expensive now?

[Dan @ Aug 8th 2007 12:48PM]

...the Core version. I would've thought that was pretty obvious.

[ben @ Aug 8th 2007 1:09PM]

I think I will stick with my wii And my powerbook 150 (Ok I own PC also but I try to stay away).

[Penguin Warlord @ Aug 9th 2007 12:08PM]

@ Lompocus

The US wouldn't need a missile shield if it took a page out of Canada's book and was a little nicer to other countries. Make fun of Canada's military all you want but just remember we don't have to fear invasion since we don't piss people off. We're peacekeepers not warmakers.

[chad @ Aug 9th 2007 11:15PM]

You're a little off as well I'm afraid. Canada doesn't spend barely any of their GDP on military (less than 1%) but I think they're working to change that because other countries man handle your northern territories for instance, including the U.S.. I think I just read an article that said the U.S. doesn't think some polar ice cap melt zones belong to you folks because it was covered by ice previously and not it's 'new' territory, lol. A strong military is good, just depends on what you do with them. That being said, Bush is doing bad things with ours. To imply that you needn't worry about territorial disputes and the like is incorrect; you just live next to a nation that has strong ties with you and whose umbrella more than likely protects you.

[Penguin Warlord @ Aug 9th 2007 11:21PM]

Don't mistake me I know what about the arctic territories issues, mainly the US and Russia. What I am trying to say is that you wouldn't need to spend the billions and billions of dollars on your military if you didn't live in a culture of fear. It's tru that Canada needs a stronger military presence in the arctic however if our troops are in another country it should only be for peacekeeping purposes.

[chad @ Aug 10th 2007 8:07AM]

... and if we didn't live in a country of capitalist money grubbing politicians.Very true, thanks :)

[chad @ Aug 10th 2007 8:13AM]

And... the other problem:

http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_public_sees_news_media_as_biased_08092007.html