No plans for Xbox 360 price drop, says MS exec

John Porcaro, group manager of PR and communications for Microsoft US, has reacted to persistent rumours by reiterating that the company has no current plans to cut the price of the Xbox 360.

In a post on his blog, Porcaro wrote: "As youâre all aware, there have been rumors of a price drop for the Xbox 360 coming along later this year. The official word from folks in the know is that there are currently no plans for a price drop this fall."

"If youâve been holding off picking one up because you think theyâll be cheaper in the future, or theyâve been hard to find, or because youâre too busy catching up on past episodes of Lost, wait no longer," he added, before highlighting the Xbox 360's features and the range of games available for the console.

Porcaro also took a potshot at the PlayStation 3, which is due to launch in the US on November 17th priced at US$499 / US$599. "Just think⦠This holiday as some people go broke because theyâre forced to buy movie technology with their game console, youâll be choosing from 160 games, including Gears of War, Madden 07, Splinter Cell, Forza 2, and lots more."

Not forgetting Mass Effect, Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto "later on", Porcaro added.

His comments echo those made to GamesIndustry.biz earlier this year by Xbox Europe boss Chris Lewis, who said that the PS3's price point "forces the consumer down a choice path in a way that I'm surprised to see."

He said Sony's decision had removed any pressure on Microsoft to cut the cost of the Xbox 360 by year-end, stating: "We're confident that we are at the right price at the right time and will remain so."