Microsoft to sell cheaper Xbox 360 in Japan
Seattle PI | at | by Mike
Microsoft plans to sell a cheaper version of its Xbox 360 game console in Japan starting Nov. 2 to bolster sluggish sales before Sony releases the PlayStation 3.
The cheaper model will retail for 29,800 yen ($256) and won't have the hard-disk drive and accessories that come with the 39,785 yen version currently available, Redmond-based Microsoft said today in an e-mailed statement. The company will also offer two free games for a limited period to entice potential buyers.
Microsoft is counting on a one-year lead against PlayStation 3 and lower prices to reverse Sony's dominance in the world's second-largest video-game market. In a move that may also help Microsoft, Sony this week halved its PS3 shipment targets for the U.S. and Japan to 2 million by March, citing parts shortages.