Microsoft cuts Xbox One price to $349

Microsoft cuts Xbox One price to $349

 

It doesn’t matter how you care to frame it, the Xbox One is struggling to compete with the PS4. A number of missteps both pre- and post-launch put Microsoft on its back foot, and the company has been desperately trying to get units moving ever since. The latest tactic? A price cut for the next two months.
The Xbox One without Kinect currently costs $399, but from November 2nd that will be reduced by $50 to just $349 in the US. The $50 cut applies to any and all official bundles, meaning you can technically save up to $150 depending on which one you choose to pick up.
Examples of the lower priced bundles include the console with Sunset Overdrive for $349. The Assassin’s Creed bundle for $349 without Kinect and $449 with, and the Call of Duty Advanced Warfare Bundle is $449, which sounds expensive until you realize it includes a 1TB hard drive, custom console case and controller, as well as the Zero Day edition of the game.

All of the major US retailers are taking part in this promotion, including Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Microsoft Stores, Target, Toys ‘R Us and Walmart. It’s Microsoft’s attempt to get you to pick up the console now rather than waiting until Black Friday for a bargain. Also, by extending the pricing into the new year it means there’s a good chance Christmas money could be spent on the Xbox One.
The new pricing comes into effect on November 2nd for all but the Call of Duty Advanced Warfare Bundle, which will be available November 3rd. It will then run until January 3rd, 2015, at which point the console should go back up to $399. I say should because if this promotion does its job and boosts sales significantly I can see Microsoft deciding to make $349 the permanent price of entry.