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Pachter: Slim 360/Natal/250GB Bundle

News

by Matthew Kato on April 13, 2010 at 09:34 AM

7,423 Views

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter is making another bold prediction: Not only does he believe the rumors that Microsoft is preparing to release a slim version of the Xbox 360, but he's proposing that Microsoft is going to release the bundle deal of the century.

Pachter says that he expects Microsoft to release a deal that includes a slim Xbox 360, 250GB hard drive, and Project Natal for only $299.

"At a minimum," says Pachter, "we anticipate the introduction of a more feature-packed Xbox 360 as the standard SKU in late 2010 (likely with a 250GB hard drive) at the same $299 price point, and think that Microsoft will cut the price before the fall only if it begins to lose significant market share to Sony."

"It is far more likely that we will see a slim version of the Xbox 360 with a 250GB hard drive and with Project Natal bundled into the box while maintaining the $299 price point, especially if Sony does not lower the price of the PS3 by the time Natal and Sony's Move controllers launch in the fall."

Currently the Xbox 360 Elite with a 120GB hard drive runs $299, and the kind of mega bundle that Pachter is suggesting is obviously a hefty step up for the same price. Not only that, but Pachter assumes that the Xbox 360 slim is real (which Microsoft has not commented on), and that Sony is looking to drop the price of the PS3. Does this sound too good to be true?

via gamesindustry.biz

Email the author Matthew Kato, or follow on Twitter, and Game Informer.

Filed under: News, Xbox 360, Project Natal, Michael Pachter

Comments

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by Cory Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:32 AM

Yup, it sounds too good to be true.
by chris bishop Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:38 AM

No, i dont think the slim is real but ms did mention a new xbox 360 but they made it sound like it just had more usb slots
by Mista Brightside Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:38 AM

Well, assuming the Elite is fairly priced right now (I know, I know, it's Micro$oft), wouldn't Microsoft be losing money on each one of these Slim/Natal/250g bundles? Personally I don't think the adoption rate would be that high. I'd say most anyone who's thinking about getting Natal already has a 360, so I don't see the point.
by Spartan117458 Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:39 AM

This is Pachter, after all. How many times is he actually right?
by Jeffrey Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:44 AM

hmmmm...yeah, too good to be true. i expect a price drop for both consoles, and i fully expect a bundle for both Microsoft and Sony, but no way it could be that cheap. and since when is the 360 too thick? i mean, if the 360-slim is more reliable (no red-ring-of-death) then thats good.
by KorbyKorbster Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:45 AM

sounds to good to be true, but man i hope its true!
by Science7@xbox Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:49 AM

This could be possible, but the price is not accurate,, if the Natal is as advertised,, it would come with a higher pricetag!! They should bundle the Natal and the 250 hard drive!!
by Drade... that Guy.... Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:50 AM

This is really to good... Following MS for the pass few years it doesn't sound like them. It sounds more like Nintendo or even Sony. MS just doesn't give good deals. They force something on you, and if you don't get it they don't care about ya. So yeah this is too good to be true. However, the only way I see this happing is if MS is hurting in the gaming department. Then Maybe.
by andrew giles Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:51 AM

This sounds way too good to be true...I was expecting natal to be at least $100 alone. Also if their releasing a 360 slim with a 250gb hdd why would they make it all in a bundle for only $299 when they sell 120gb Elite's for that price...they may cut prices again and they may make a slim 360 with a 250gb hdd for only $299 but there is no way they'd include natal in for that same price...
by Jessie Scott Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:54 AM

What's up PS3 wannabe? Xbox360 slim? 299 bundle? I hope they are aiming Natal at people who already own a 360. Meh, I don't care what they do. I won't be spending any of my money on a 360. Give me games and maybe I'll change my mind.
by Kigaru Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:57 AM

If it's too good to be true, it's probably because it is. No way I'm believing this. Even if Microsoft really does release a bundle that includes a 360 and natal it will not be at such a cheap price. Especially considering natal is brandnew equipment that has not had any shelf time yet.
by Zenger8 Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:59 AM

Slim 360 really! do we need this??? so put out a "SLIM" 360 so that one can have red lights e74 thing too or just go and buy ps3 i have both and dont see a need for a slim 360
by nick holk Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 11:06 AM

Definitely sounds to good to be true, but we will see. I'm curious what they will bundle with the Natal, maybe just a couple of games and a system. Probably going to go for $399 at least.
by sealsaa Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 11:07 AM

@Jessie Scott

LOL, you want to see a "wanna be"? Take a look at Sony's new vibrator-I mean, motion controller. That thing has Wii motion written all over it.
by OmegaSpartan08 Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 11:08 AM

WTF!? i just bought a new 250GB 360 and in less than a year it will be obsolete?! i'll buy the Slim 360 down the line but only after the one i have become worthless. *** you Microsoft!
by eyros2k Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 11:12 AM

Bold... is one way of putting it. Never gonna happen... the whole "lose money on hardware to gain back from market share" thing doesn't happen on this kind of scale at the (possibly more than) half way mark in a console generation.

350 minimum for the bundle mentioned... but perhaps with a very small HD we'll see 300
by TheLostMarauder18 Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 11:14 AM

Yeah, definitely don't see this happening. If I'm wrong then so be it.
by Timothy Repasky Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 11:17 AM

i don't buy this. microsoft just doesn't seem like the type to start making slim iterations of its consoles. i would love the 250 GB standard harddrive though :)
by John Smith Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 11:19 AM

IF MS does deliver ont he slim... I hoe the Elite/Fat becomes th standard for the lower priced sku. I guess enabling USB drives gives them the ability to not worry about havinga bundled HDD but let's not go back to the cheaper-looking arcade edition.
by Emberghost Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 11:20 AM

This sounds too good to be true to me. Microsoft is not one to put out cheap bundles of stuff. If they did however come out with a slim version, I might be willing to buy it if they fixed all the hardware problems that the current Xbox 360s still have.