Retailers Eye Xbox 360 Price Tag

Microsoft's not giving out any solid details, but trickles are appearing in the retail dam.

Microsoft has been loose-lipped in the run-up to the global launch of the Xbox 360 later this year about every except pricing, but retailers across the world are ringing in with their estimates.

So just how much are you going to have to hand over? Apparently leaked information from US retail giant Wal-Mart, reported by MCV, suggests that the console will go for $299 (£170) when it's released.

Hardware makers have been hesitant to push up the launch price of their new consoles, especially in the US, where a $299 price has become the norm - barring the $199 price of the GameCube at launch.

The exact launch date of the Xbox 360 is unknown as well, but the buzz is circling around 4 November - a likely date, as it's just before the traditional Thanksgiving Day shopping rush in the US.

Closer to home, HMV's crystal ball points to a £299 launch price here, though representatives for the High Street chain were quick to point out that this is likely higher than the final price, which could be around £250 according to estimates reported by MCV.

The PS3 looms as Microsoft wrestles with its own pricing

Online retailer Play.com is playing it safer still, with a predicted launch price of £399. The firm is also betting on a higher suggested selling price of £49.99 for Xbox 360 games.

Leading online retailer Amazon.co.uk has so far stayed out of the guessing game. The company has had a placeholder page in place for a few months now for Xbox 360 - and for Sony's and Nintendo's consoles too - but it's not yet taking money from anyone.

A common theme among the retailers is the overestimation of the final price of the console.

"It's common sense from a marketing perspective for us to price it higher than expected," an HMV representative told MCV. "The online price is our best guess at what it may be."

All eyes are now on Microsoft, which will be sizing up the threat posed by PlayStation 3 and Revolution as it nails down the final price points for the console and its games.

While Sony has yet to reveal the launch price of the PlayStation 3, due in Japan next spring, the company's president, Ken Kutaragi, has said on more than one occasion recently that the PlayStation 3 is going to be expensive.

But with the Xbox 360 launch looming, Microsoft's announcement is more pressing and the company could show its hand as early as this month at the Leipzig Games Convention.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games