Microsoft subtracts dollars from Xbox 360 add-ons

Stephen Withers
Monday, 01 September 2008 08:33

Your IT - Entertainment

Microsoft has reduced the RRP of certain Xbox 360 peripherals by up to 40 percent.

The accessory reductions follow a recent trimming of Xbox 360 console prices in Australia. Recommended retail prices are $A349 for the Xbox 360 Arcade, $A499 for the Xbox 360 Pro at AU$499.00, and $A649 for the Xbox 360 Elite.

The biggest percentage reductions apply to the cheapest devices on the list.

The Xbox 360 Headset and Universal Media Remote have both been slashed from $A49.95 to $A29.95.

The most expensive item on the list - the 120G hard drive - has been trimmed by $A30, from $A229.95 to $A199.95 (13 percent). That still seems on the high side, considering generic 120G USB drives sell for $A80 or even less.

And saving $A20 on the Wireless Networking Adaptor (now $A149.95) is welcome, but it still seems overpriced when USB wireless dongles have a street price of around $A30. Admittedly, they're not directly comparable.

At least it brings the price closer to the Linksys Wireless-G Game Adaptor, but those on a budget can spend as little as $A50 on a factory-fresh wireless router and install the DD-WRT firmware on it to get equivalent functionality.

That leaves the Wireless Racing Wheel, down a full $A50 from $A199.95 to $A149.95.