Xbox 360 price drops in UK

There have been rumours for some time that the Xbox 360 was due for a price cut in Europe. And now, following on the heels of the US price reduction and the recent Australian announcement, Microsoft UK has revealed that UK consumers will be paying less for the Xbox 360 from Friday, and will also be able to get their hands on the Elite edition.

The Xbox 360 Elite edition will be released on Friday

The retail price of an Xbox 360 in the UK will go down to £250 from Friday 24 August, which represents a cut of £30. The Core console, which does not have a hard drive, will be reduced by £20 to £180.

Stephen McGill, head of gaming and entertainment for Xbox UK, said, "We're pleased to be able to offer Xbox 360 at a new, lower estimated retail price." Sony's PlayStation 3 currently retails in the UK for around £399 (in a bundle with an extra controller and games), and the Nintendo Wii at £179.

Microsoft also announced that Xbox 360 Elite, which launches in the UK this Friday, will have an 'estimated' retail price of £300. The Elite edition of the console has a 120GB hard drive and an HDMI port, and comes with a black finish, which Microsoft says, "marks the Xbox 360 Elite as... the 'luxury' option for seasoned gamers".

A range of Xbox 360 accessories are also being released in the UK. These include a detachable 120GB hard drive to enable Xbox 360 owners to increase their consoles' storage capacity, which is estimated to retail at £130. A black wireless controller will also be available, with a price tag of £33, as will a black rechargeable battery pack, priced at £10.