While Microsoft proclaim “Xbox 360 Arcade Now from £159.99″ on xbox.com retailers are offering almost a third off of that. At HMV you can pick one up for £109.99 with GAME coming in a couple of pence cheaper at £109.97.
A price cut like this may suggest that the system has not been selling particularly well since receiving a hike in price from £129 back in August. The Arcade is obviously even more of an accessory-selling machine than the Elite but if you are a parent out shopping for Xmas presents an Xbox 360 for a shade over £100 is going to look like a good deal.
With the Arcade selling at £110, if you combine it with the Xbox LIVE 60GB Starter Pack which includes a 60GB HDD, obviously, and a 3 month Xbox LIVE Gold subscription plus Ethernet cable and a wired headset and retails for around £55, for £165 you have essentially got yourself what used to be the 360 Pro before that model was discontinued.
As that would still include no games though an Elite with say Forza III and Borderlands for £200 is better value if you have the extra money to spend. If you are looking for a cheap bundle including games Argos have a deal that gets you an Arcade plus Fifa 10 and Forza III for £139.99. Installing that second Forza disk is going to be problematic though.
Via MCV
Pixl1983 | 17/12/2009 10:14
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Hmmm, do I abuse this early paycheck and get in a shite load of trouble with the misses or can I live without? I think I’ll wait til I’ve gotten rid of those nasty unemployment debts first. Bugger.
smokeybeef | 17/12/2009 12:03
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Don’t. The arcade is kack and pointless. Unless you are referring to the Elite, then why not? I did.
cam the man | 17/12/2009 17:51
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Now it’s a bit pointless to have a 360 without a hard drive.
3shirts | 17/12/2009 10:19
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I bought an Arcade (machine) from eBay for £100 when I was in my student house at uni. Proper awesome that was. We had loads of games on proper PCBs and we tidied up the cabinet, fixed a few bits and sold it a year later when we moved out for £200!
Good times
Raen | 17/12/2009 10:54
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This makes me want a second 360, and I don’t even know why.
hazelam | 17/12/2009 16:17
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redundancy? as in a back up not in case you lose your job.
cc_star | 17/12/2009 11:06
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Not sure who the Arcade SKU is aimed at, because the chances are it’s not going to be sitting under the main TV in the house, so a wifi adapter is pretty much essential. The basic machine without a HDD is so inflexible as to be next to useless
If you’re gonna get a 360 then get the Elite which for about 189 comes with a few games and extra controller, its likely then that the only thing you’ll need to buy as an extra is the wifi adapter and maybe a live subscription for £26.99
Windswept fairy | 17/12/2009 11:06
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I’ve not had much luck with 360’s, had four so far, but at this price I am feeling a fifth being purchased just for forza. Very good price for a very good console.
cc_star | 17/12/2009 11:09
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Must be very good indeed if you’ve bought 5 of them
Windswept fairy | 17/12/2009 11:24
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Well apart from some questionable build quality ! I have friends who have not had a single issue from the start though, so very good online and very good games.
Tuffcub | 17/12/2009 12:10
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Or just buy a PS3 and get everything in one go
carlosfilippsen | 17/12/2009 13:09
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Xbox’s are cheap these days if you are going to buy one then its worth buying an elite.
cam the man | 17/12/2009 17:52
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I bet Microsoft are rueing the day they decided not to supply a hard drive with every console.
cc_star | 17/12/2009 17:54
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doubt it, its the key reason they’ve shifted so many – getting the lowest base price possible
Paranoimia | 17/12/2009 20:48
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Damn – I saw the article title in Twitter and came here expecting details on how to buy an actual arcade for under £110. I go away disappointed.
Foxhound Solid | 18/12/2009 09:16
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I actually feel a little sorry for people who are mislead and buy into the ‘arcade’ 360. Once they get it home and realise their pads arent wireless, they need a HDD, its not wi-fi etc they will be quite upset. I mean are there any 360 owners that stick with this set up?
Foxhound Solid | 18/12/2009 09:17
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Tuffcub is on the money there too. May as well get a PS3 a be worry free….