Reports from all over the web have claimed that Microsoft have released the official pricing for the Kinect, previously called Project Natal, but the pre-order page (now) clearly states:
Official pricing has not been announced. $149.99 is an estimate only and subject to change. Quantities may be limited. Orders will be fulfilled on a first come first served basis.
Pre-orders on the Microsoft site are covered under Microsoft’s Pre-Order Price Guarantee, however. It promises that pre-order customers will pay the lowest price offered between the time you place the pre-order and the official public release date.
Pre-Order Price Guarantee
The advertised price for pre-order items may increase or decrease prior to the date the product is released to the public. However, you’ll only be charged the lowest price offered between the time you place your pre-order and the date the product is released to the public. Also, we won’t charge your credit card until you download the product or we ship it to you. The Pre-Order Price Guarantee only applies to pre-order items and prices offered on the Microsoft Store. It does not apply to items and prices advertised by other sellers, prices inclusive of taxes, shipping charges, or typographical errors.
While the pricing for Kinect isn’t official and South African gamers won’t easily be able to shop from Microsoft’s US store, it’s interesting to compare pre-order price of a Kinect ($149.99) to other Xbox peripherals.
One could also argue in light of Microsoft’s Pre-Order Price Guarantee that they would try to get the maximum retail price of the peripheral right before opening it to pre-orders.
Since a wireless Xbox 360 controller costs $49.99 in the Microsoft store, we could guesstimate the maximum cost of the Kinect to be roughly what three Xbox 360 wireless controllers would cost you in South Africa.
The Kinect is set to release to the public on 4 November in the US with a local release slated for December 2010. Microsoft SA confirmed that any Kinect prices being reported are rumours only and shouldn’t be regarded as the Kinect’s final RRP.
Yvette van Rooyen, Product and Marketing Manager for Xbox 360 at Microsoft South Africa also confirmed that the “Stealthbox” would be priced the same as the current Xbox 360 Elite, but couldn’t confirm the availability of a cheaper version of the new Xbox design.
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