Xbox 360 to retail at $249-$299 MS to ship 3m units by Dec 05?

[Sammael]

Goldman Sachs said it confirmed with Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) that the company is unlikely to discontinue production of the Xbox videogame console with the launch of Xbox 2. Microsoft will provide a sneak peek of the Xbox 2 console on a television special on May 12 on MTV in North America and on May 13 internationally. "We had expected Xbox 2 to shown for the first time at the E3 videogaming conference in Los Angeles (May 17-20, 2005)," Goldman said. "This appears to be a tactical effort to show Xbox 2 before Sony (nyse: SNE - news - people ) demonstrates the PS3 [PlayStation 3 videogame console] at E3." The research firm, which rates Microsoft at "outperform," expects Xbox 2 to be available for retail sale in October or November at a retail price of about $249 to $299. Goldman said the Xbox console would cater to the lower-end of the consumer segment. The firm expects Microsoft to ship about 3 million units of the Xbox 2 worldwide in the December quarter. Sony is expected to debut the PS3 at E3, "although the product is not expected to be available in the U.S. until mid-2006 (perhaps a Japan launch in the fourth quarter of 2005 although more likely in the first quarter of 2006)," Goldman said.
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www.forbes.com

[Variation-XBA]

Expects doesnt mean its confirmed

[LynxFX]

Of course it will be over $600 when you consider everyone will force you buy it in premade bundles only.

Eitherway, despite being unconfirmed info it is probably right on. I don't see many people spending more than $300 on the console alone. Only problem will be the multiple versions coming out which jacks up the price for the version that has all of the features you were expecting.

I'm holding off judgement until E3.

[Madhattr]

I wont be buying it unless it has something on it worth playing.

[CRAYMAN]

What do they mean that "the Xbox console would cater to the lower-end of the consumer segment"???

[LynxFX]

What do they mean that "the Xbox console would cater to the lower-end of the consumer segment"???

Since games will still be coming out for the original Xbox and it is priced at under $150 it will still be available for those without the chunk of change to purchase X2.

[Whisper]

probably 359.99 in canada.. sounds decent.. but then you need a game (add 69.99)

probably wont be getting it right away

[wbio]

Actually lower than what I was expecting, if it comes out at $250 though, I'd be amazed, but $300 sounds good IMO. I can't wait until the MTV thing and E3 though to learn more.

[Whisper]

250 is too cheap.. if this range is correct.. its for sure going to be the 299

[Reclaimer]

Show me some games first..

[MerimacHamwich]

If they are indeed having multiple versions, and that price is for the "low end" version. Then there is no way I am buying until at least the end of 06 when prices drop considerably.

[Variation-XBA]

I wont be buying it unless it has something on it worth playing.

[cough]PD0[/cough]

I always budget $500 for each new system, so long as it comes under that I really don't care about the price IMO. And yea, I'll be buying the top version.

[Slowride]

Whats all this talk of different versions of xbox 2. Can someone show me a link which states xbox 2 will sell in different versions?

[Casper]

Has there been any confirmation for or against backwards compatiblity? That way, I won't sweat selling both of my Xbox's for money towards this.

[Variation-XBA]

Whats all this talk of different versions of xbox 2. Can someone show me a link which states xbox 2 will sell in different versions?

Can't find a link atm, but the current RUMORS are:

XB2
XB2 + Hard drive
XB2 + PC media suite

What all those include, who knows, remember to treat it as a rumor until MS tells us the truth come E3.

[skorp]

New rumours on Microsoft's plans to release two versions of Xbox 2 and suggest the top-end version will include WebTV

Yay, more Xbox 2 rumours have surfaced on the internet, the latest speculation re-igniting the old 'two different versions of the console to be released' gossip and suggesting the pricier model will, among other bonuses, feature Web TV technology (WebTV allows the likes of internet surfing on your television).

According to the latest rumours, the high-end Xbox 2 will retail at $399 and as well as coming with WebTV support, will also include a hard drive and backwards compatibility to play original Xbox games. Xbox 2 low-end edition costs $100 less but comes with none of these features, say the rumours.

It's also being suggested that the model split percentage in the initial launch batch of Xbox 2's will be roughly 80/20, with units weighted in favour of the high-end version.


For now, if you hadn't already sussed, this information is all stamped 'rumour' in very large, red letters, and if you want to go one further you can take it all with an equally large pinch of salt.

Microsoft remained unavailable for comment on these reports at the time of writing, but if it said anything other than "We do not comment on internet speculation and rumour", we'd be looking out the window for a fly past by a squadron of porkers.

[Whisper]

hm.. including of the BC on the higher-end version is smart.. it both eases my pain of not having BC.. but making me mad cause they are making 2 versions forcing me to buy the high-end to satisfy

damn these big corporations.. you think in your mind you will be able to protest.. but then.. ahhhh mind control

[Sammael]

I just dont think there will be multiple versions.

[Slowride]

Me neither.

[StudioAlex]

It's a bad idea to make multiple versions. Most people will opt for the cheaper, and thus most developers won't take advantage of the features of the more expensive ones, thereby giving people who actually shell out the cash for the upgraded ones the short end of it.