Microsoft cuts Xbox 360 price by $50 for a limited time

It’s less than two months now until the Xbox One launches, so you’d expect Microsoft to start ramping up its marketing for the new console soon. But before then, it seems the Xbox 360 is getting some attention. More specifically, Microsoft seems to be aiming for one last sales push before its current gen console has to compete with a next gen machine.

For a limited time you can pick up a brand new Xbox 360 with $50 slashed off the usual price and/or $50 of Xbox Live credit included in the purchase. The participating retailers include Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, NFM, Target, and Walmart, but the offer varies depending on which of those you decide to purchase from.

As an example, Amazon is offering the 4GB new style Xbox 360E console for $179 (usually $199.99) with $50 promotional credit. So you are basically saving $71 compared to what you’d usually pay for that combination. The 250GB version is $249 with the same free $50 credit, meaning you’re saving $101.

Although these promotions are only expected to run for a limited time, I can’t see why they won’t turn into a permanent price cut. We are approaching the holidays and the launch of the Xbox One, so Microsoft needs to offer a new incentive to keep people buying the Xbox 360. What better way than a price cut and credit for purchasing download games and entertainment?

If you are on the market for a new 360, say, because your pre-2009 console won’t play GTA V, now is clearly a great time to pick one up.