Xbox

The Xbox is Microsoft's first game console, released on November 15, 2001. It was Microsoft's first independent venture into the console arena, after having collaborated with Sega in porting Windows CE to the Sega Dreamcast console. Notable launch titles for the console include Amped, Dead or Alive 3, ', ', and Project Gotham Racing.

Price history

North America

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• US$299 (November 15, 2001, Launch Price)
• US$199 (2002)
• US$179 (2003)
• US$149 (March 29, 2004)
• CAD$199 (March 29, 2004)

Europe

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• €479 (Launch Price (Ireland) 14 March, 2002),
• £299 GBP (Launch Price March 14, 2002),
• €299 (Launch Price (Rest of Europe) and Ireland April 26, 2002)
• €249 (August 30, 2002)
• €199 (2003)
• £130 (2003)
• €149 (August 27, 2004)
• £99 (August 27, 2004)

Oceania

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• AU$699 AUD (26 April, 2002, Launch Price) (Quickly dropped to $399 to compete with launch of Nintendo GameCube)
• AU$399 AUD (2004)
• AU$299 AUD (2005)
• NZ$499 NZD (3 October, 2002, Launch Price)
• AU$349 (2003)
• NZ$399 (2003)
• AU$299 (2004)
• NZ$349 (2004)
• AU$249 (2004, 2005)
• NZ$299 (2004 Q2)
• NZ$249 (2004 Q4, 2005)

Of note is the high European launch price. As with many games consoles (for example, the PlayStation series), the Xbox was launched with a price in GBP equal to its US price in USD (in this case, $/£299), and this price then converted for the rest of Europe. Obviously, ignoring the GBP-USD exchange rate in the way gives the impression of a 100% mark-up for Europe.

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With a price-dropped PlayStation 2 and a comparatively inexpensive GameCube as competition, many users were naturally reluctant to invest in the console (interestingly, the PS2 had faced similar attacks during the UK tabloids' preoccupation with "Ripoff Britain"). Microsoft countered with a £100 price drop (and its equivalent in the rest of Europe) some scant months after launch. To avoid frustrating early adopters, they offered a bundle containing two games and one controller for free to any purchaser who could provide a sales receipt showing the original higher price.

Related Topics:
Tabloids - Ripoff Britain

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