No lower price for Xbox 360
E3 UPDATE: But Microsoft's HD DVD add-on will be "bargain" in Q4
By George T. Chronis 5/9/2006
MAY 9 | LOS ANGELES—Microsoft did not lower its Xbox 360 price at its Electronic Entertainment Expo event here Tuesday. Instead, the company talked up how good the 360 games look one year after launch.
Industry analysts had wondered if Microsoft would drop the Xbox 360 price in an effort to boost market share before Sony bows its PlayStation 3 next-generation videogame console in November.
Since its launch last November, the Xbox 360 has been priced at $299 for the console or at $399 for a premium bundle with accessories.
Microsoft did confirm that the HD DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 will arrive in the fourth quarter for the all important holiday season.
Although the company did not disclose a price point, Peter Moore, executive VP of Microsoft Entertainment, said the unit would be a “bargain” compared to other high-definition player options.
Toshiba’s HD DVD players are selling for $499 and $799, and Sony announced Monday that its Blu-ray-equipped PlayStation 3 will be priced at $499 and $599.
Microsoft showed off a hardware mockup of the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on saying it was 90% finished. The silver and gray unit is about the size of a hardback novel.
The company also announced Live Anywhere, an extension of its Live online service for the Xbox. Live Anywhere will take the online service not only to the Xbox but also to computers powered by Microsoft’s Vista when it launches and mobile phones that use Microsoft mobile software.
With Live Anywhere, gamers with a Live account will be able to connect to other gamers through Vista and their mobile phones, for example, sending messages to users on these other platforms.
Moore said Microsoft's projects there will be 6 million Live subscribers by May 2007.
For the most part, Microsoft was content to display upcoming titles such as Gears of War: Emergence Day to illustrate that developers with a year's head start are creating titles equal or better than what Sony will launch the PS3 with.
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