Last week Sony put long standing rumors to rest by announcing a price cut on the 80GB and 160 GB PS3. The company also unveiled the PS3 Slim for the first time, a smaller, cooler and quieter PS3 which will retail for the same price as the regular 80GB PS3.<\/p>\n
In response Microsoft slashed the price of the Xbox 360 Elite edition, and announced that the 60GB Pro would be phased out, with some regions getting a price reduction on the outgoing console.<\/p>\n
While the Elite has had its price reduced to compete directly with the new PS3 price, the Arcade has seen a price increase in some regions, namely Europe and Britian where consumers will now pay £159.99 for an Arcade as opposed to the outgoing price of £129.99.<\/p>\n
The PS3 80GB and PS3 120GB Slim will sell for $299 in the USA, €299 in Europe and £249.99 in Britain.<\/p>\n
Europeans will enjoy a €100 price cut, and the US gets $100 chopped off the 80GB console while Britain will now pay £50 less than they did before.<\/p>\n
The picture is slightly more complicated when we look at the Xbox 360. With the former flagship 60GB Pro being phased out, some regions have removed official pricing while others such as the USA have cut the price until stock is depleted. The Xbox 360 Elite now occupies the price point which the Pro once did.<\/p>\n
The Xbox 360 120 GB Elite now retails for $300 in the US, as opposed to its former price of $400. The Xbox 360 Arcade will retain its previous price of $200. Xbox 360 60GB Pro consoles will sell for $250 until stock is depleted.<\/p>\n
Europe and the UK face a slightly different scenario. The Elite is being reduced by £30 to £200. At this price it undercuts the PS3 by £50. In a surprising move from Microsoft, the Xbox 360 Arcade will see a price increase in the UK, from £130 to £160. This puts the cost of the Arcade at just £40 less than the Elite.<\/p>\n
Yesterday Microsoft SA announced that the price of the Xbox 360 Elite in SA would be reduced from R4900 to R3400. The Arcade will continue to sell for R2500 and the 60GB Pro will be phased out, leaving retailers to clear their stock independently.<\/p>\n
Region specific pricing<\/strong><\/p>\n PS3 120GB Slim and PS3 80GB<\/strong><\/p>\n USA $300 – R2300 Xbox 360 Elite<\/strong><\/p>\n USA $300 – R2300 Xbox 360 Arcade <\/strong><\/p>\n USA $200 – R1550 *The new PS3 price has not been confirmed by local distributer SterKinekor but a number of websitesalready have the console available for preorder for between R3700 and R4000.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Europe is clearly the most expensive of the three primary listed regions, and it is common knowledge that local companies generally work alongside their European counterparts. This unfortunately means that local prices will be significantly higher than US prices which are invariably the lowest in the Western market.<\/p>\n
Europe €300 – R3350
UK £250 – R3150
SA (*Unconfirmed) R3800<\/p>\n
Europe €250 – R2800
UK £200 – R2500
SA R3400<\/p>\n
Europe €200 – R2200
UK £160 – R2000
SA R2500
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