Xboxist

Xbox 360 Sales in Britain Double on Price Drop

Americans weren't the only ones to benefit from a recent drop in price accross all Xbox 360 SKUs. Over in Europe, gamers have been snapping up the console in record numbers following a similar reduction in price. New figures announced yesterday by ChartTrack saw sales of the Microsoft Xbox 360 increase by 214% in the last two weeks, outselling Sony’s PlayStation 3 by more than two-to-one, as a direct result of a recent price reduction by Microsoft.

The new discount on the Xbox 360 introduced last week has brought the entry-level price point for the console down to £129.99 ($230 USD). The upmarket Pro and Elite bundles now sell for £169.99 ($300) and £229.99 ($407), respectively. While still more expensive than their counterparts in America, this brings the console closer within reach for many gamers, who have long complained about price disparities in Europe.

The reduction is only part of the story though, as the largest marketing campaign in the history of Xbox also launched this week. The ad campaign focuses on the new Xbox Experience, by emphasizing music, movies and family gaming ‘moments’ with Xbox 360 through new television, print and poster ads. A new lineup of games also puts the focus on the mass-market, family appeal of the console. A handful of holiday titles, including the new singing game Lips and You’re in the Movies, are part of this new marketing strategy.

Chris Lewis, Vice President, Interactive Entertainment Business EMEA, said: “This data shows that the Xbox 360 trajectory continues upwards, and not just in the UK. We’ve seen uplift in all countries in Europe and are confident that even at this rate of growth we can keep retail satisfied with a steady supply of consoles throughout the Christmas season.”

It looks like there has never been a better time to become an Xbox 360 owner in the UK, and consumers so far seem to agree.

[Via: Press Release]