Andre Yoskowitz
13 Apr 2010 20:57
According to Wedbush Morgan gaming analyst Michael Pachter, Microsoft will likely launch a "slim" Xbox 360 later this year, one with a 250GB HDD, and one that will likely be bundled with a Project Natal motion controller.
The bundle will also sell for $299, a pretty significant discount considering the three pieces bundled.
Additionally, Pachter says Microsoft will do an across-the-board price slash on current Xbox 360 models by August, if Sony continues to show strong growth.
"At a minimum, we anticipate the introduction of a more feature-packed Xbox 360 as the standard SKU in late 2010 (likely with a 250GB hard drive) at the same $299 price point, and think that Microsoft will cut price before the fall only if it begins to lose significant market share to Sony," says Pachter, via GI.Biz.
"It is far more likely that we will see a slim version of the Xbox 360 with a 250 GB hard drive and with Project Natal bundled into the box while maintaining the $299 price point, especially if Sony does not lower the price of the PS3 by the time Natal and Sony’s Move controllers launch in the fall," Pachter continues.
In March, rumors began surfacing that a Slim Xbox 360 might be in the works, when Microsoft opened up a new job for "motherboard engineer" for their gaming division.