While Microsoft may have price snipped the Xbox 360 Elite down to USD 299, it won’t carry a significant impact to sales ”over last year’s performance” says analyst firm EEDAR.
Instead they offer the consolation that consistent sales show USD 299 is the ”sweet spot” for the next-gen consoles. Microsoft will ”most likely reposition” the Elite to USD 249 within a year.
”Forecasting for the remainder of the year, EEDAR does not expect the Xbox 360 to see a significant sales lift over last year’s performance despite its price drop for the Xbox 360 Elite system,” said EEDAR. ”In fact, the consistency of sales would indicate that the USD 299 price point is a sweet spot for the next-generation home consoles.”
Director Jesse Divnich of EEDAR believes the platform holder will nudge the Elite down to USD 249 neat year so as to introduce Natal with the Xbox 360 at USD 299.
”Over the next year Microsoft will most likely reposition the Xbox 360 Elite model closer to the USD 249 price point to both pressure Sony and attract potential Nintendo Wii consumers.”
”From a strategic standpoint this would then allow Microsoft to introduce the new Natal model in 2010/2011 at the USD 299 price point and still have an option for consumers cheaper than the Sony PlayStation 3,” wrote Divnich.
EEDAR has spoken, and we consumers are told we’ve gotten our sweet spot price. Do you agree with their crystal ball predictions, videogamer?
Source: GamesIndustry.biz
