Microsoft revealed this afternoon that the forthcoming Xbox 360 will retail for €309.99 in Ireland and £209.99 sterling in Northern Ireland and will be launched in time for the Christmas market.
A second package, featuring an additional €150 worth of accessories will be also available for €409.99. This package will feature not only the 360 console but a 20GB hard drive, wireless controller, 360 removable faceplate, 360 headset, high definition-AV cable, Xbox Live Silver membership and an integrate remote controller.
The standard €309.99 package comes with the console, a 360 controller, removable faceplates and standard AV cable.
The Xbox 360 and Xbox 360 Core System — along with an impressive line-up of high-definition game titles from the world’s biggest publishers and developers — will make their debut in North America, Europe and Japan in time for this Christmas, several months ahead of PlayStation 3.
The prices for the new games were unveiled at the German Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany. The console features a built-in Ethernet port and connects players with a Silver membership to global online games and entertainment network Xbox Live where gamers can chat with friends online, build and share gamer profiles, send and receive text and voice messages and access a marketplace for new content such as demos, trailers and games.
Subscribers to the Gold level of service will gain access to online multiplayer gaming as well as worldwide tournaments where they can win big prizes.
“The sheer entertainment value of Xbox 360 cannot be overstated,” said Robbie Bach, chief Xbox officer for Microsoft.
“While the system has the muscle to power awe-inspiring graphics, audio and online play, it’s also got the intelligence to serve as a one-of-a-kind entertainment device that plays CDs, DVDs, MP3s and digital content from an array of devices, including portable music players and digital cameras.”
By John Kennedy
