We’ve already seen Microsoft cut the price of the 20Gb Xbox 360 Pro to make way for the 60Gb Pro, but ever since then there has been speculation about further price cuts on the way, with all SKUs potentially seeing price reductions. The latest rumour to add to mix is that the new lower-priced Arcade pack could come bundled with a Wii Remote style motion-sensing controller.

For the whole of August it seems as though there has been widespread speculation about the possibility of further price cuts across the full Xbox 360 range. Just yesterday, Mike posted the latest evidence of price cuts to come, with the Arcade pack potentially being reduced to just $199, putting it below the price of the Nintendo Wii for the first time ever.

And now Xbox 360 Fanboy, an obviously unbiased source (!!!) has claimed to have received a tip from someone close to Microsoft’s marketing department. They seem to confirm the $199 Xbox 360 rumour, and then go on to claim that the console will now be bundled with a motion-sensing controller and a few Rare-developed mini-games to use with it pre-installed.

Furthermore, the motion-sensing controller will also be sold separately and be compatible with all existing models of the Xbox 360. The bundle is expected to be released in time for the holiday season of 2008.

Now obviously this is a mere rumour at this point, with the only evidence being one person talking to an Xbox 360-oriented website. But it certainly isn’t beyond the realms of possibility and deserves not to just be dismissed.

The rumours of a motion-sensing controller being developed for the Xbox 360 have been around all year, and releasing it as part of the Arcade bundle would certainly make sense. The $199 price point would mean the Arcade SKU would be competing directly for casual gamers money along with the Wii.

My only real reservation about this rumour is the thought that Microsoft would surely have made some announcement about it by now, either at E3 or Leipzig. And there has been nothing of the sort.

Constant price cutting seems to be Microsoft’s only solution to the slowing down of Xbox 360 sales, and with it all but being confirmed that the console is being turned in to a machine for casual gamers, a $199 Arcade Xbox 360 with a Wii Remote style controller would seem to be an obvious next step for the console.

Related:

Break-apart PS3 controller on way to rip off Nintendo Wii Remote?

PS3 & Xbox 360 Wii-mimicking motion-sensing controllers on way

Wii remote style PS3 controller on way in addition to Xbox 360 version?

Is an Xbox 360 version of the Wii Remote being developed?

PS3 XMB & Trophies, Xbox 360 Wii Miis - Is originality dead and buried?

Entry was posted on Friday, August 22nd, 2008 at 6:39 pm under Hardware, Industry, Marketing, Microsoft, Opinion, Wii, Xbox 360.

Read more entries by Dave Parrack.
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