Xbox 360 HD DVD Price Drop

Microsoft today quietly announced a price drop for the Xbox 360 HD DVD player, lowering the cost of the drive from its previous $180 price point to $130 in both Canada and the US. The discount reduces the cost of the USB add-on drive to below the most recent $150 price of Toshiba's stand-alone HD-A3 player and makes it the single least expensive HD DVD-capable device on the market, although it requires an Xbox 360 console to function. The price reduction takes effect immediately, according to Microsoft. Whether the attachment will still qualify for the five-movie giveaway deal is uncertain.

No explanation has been given for the price drop, though the move is likely both an attempt to bring its price into line with Toshiba players as well as a recognition of the effect of Warner Bros.' move to sell movies exclusively in Blu-ray later this year, which will place as much as 70 percent of all HD movie releases solely in the Blu-ray camp. Toshiba has characterized its own price drop, which reduced player prices by as much as 50 percent, as a reaction to strong holiday sales.

By Electronista Staff