Microsoft Slashes Price of Xbox 360 Overseas

Though it boasts the most impressive game library and some of the most successful franchises the industry has to offer, Microsoft has struggled to win the hearts of Asian gamers with its Xbox 360. Though North Americans swoon over Halo, Mass Effect, and the cars of Project Gotham Racing, few overseas players are all that interested in breaking ties with Sony or Nintendo.

That's surely the reason Microsoft recently announced it would be slashing prices on its console across the Pacific. First reported by the Wall Street Journal and later confirmed by the Redmond-based powerhouse, Microsoft will reduce the cost of its gaming hardware in Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan. (Source: efluxmedia.com)

Not all cuts are the same. Singapore players are receiving the most impressive slash, nearly 20% down to SGD$499 (about $366 USD). Taiwanese gamers will see the system drop 17%, in Hong Kong it plummets 11%, and in South Korea 5%. By the time you read this, all cuts will have been made at retail outlets.

In confirming the price reductions, Microsoft stated that the move is part of an "ongoing strategy to bring Xbox's high-definition gaming and entertainment experience to an even wider user base." (Source: gamespot.com)

In North America, sales are still impressive. Floated by the anticipated release of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV, the Xbox 360 remains a popular machine in the US of A and Canada. And yet, no price cuts appear on the horizon there.

Just more proof that the squeaky wheel gets the grease.