Rumor: New 360 SKU on the way?

by Terrence Stasse { Feb 19th 2008 at 9:45AM }

To go with our "New Xbox Live" rumor, here's another rumor about a supposedly new product out of the Microsoft camp. Amazon.com is reporting that many of the current 360 SKU's are "Discontinued by the manufacturer," and this is hitting right at a time when there's swirling talk about how there are shortages for the 360 on the supply side of things. Not only that, but then there are the rumors about the new chipsets and motherboards, which may or may not be being readied for a new line of SKU's. Hardware evolution over the course of a console's life-cycle is not unheard of, but this round of the console wars has been hit with enough SK craziness to last several generations. With this new rumor surfacing in the midst of news about new chipsets and discontinued models, maybe Microsoft is simply updating whats in the bundle, not the price of the box. Then again, GTA IV is right around the corner, and that would be the perfect time for a price drop or SKU shift ....

Tags: amazon, hardware, sku

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Doc @ Feb 19th 2008 9:55AM

I'd like to see the arcade go for around $179 especailly since HDD's from MS are way too pricey IMO. Which is a completely stupid business model since HDD's are cheap and giving more just increases the odd's of DLC purchases. It's like having a licence to print money.

ray42 @ Feb 19th 2008 1:50PM

It's hard enough trying to explain the three SKU's to a new buyer...

DjDATZ @ Feb 19th 2008 9:59AM

LOL...love the chop terrence!

New SKU?! Maybe time for me to hold off _again_ on buying a new 360? Ugh. lol

Ejab @ Feb 19th 2008 12:00PM

You do know you dont have to buy a new skew every time it comes out right?

DjDATZ @ Feb 19th 2008 12:19PM

DUH, I don't buy a new 360 every time there's a new SKU...where would you get that idea?

I've been looking to get a new 360 because of the added reliability of the Falcon...but still haven't because of all the new SKUs and things that have been coming out... So now if there's another new SKU, I'll wait off AGAIN.

AJ @ Feb 19th 2008 10:23AM

Well I got a new Elite last week that was manufactured the second week of Jan. 08 and finally there are reports accross the US of systems slowly getting back into the channel. S oI don't think they have "Stopped" manufacturing the current console versions.

I have not seen the amazon pages being referenced in the story, but remember, the holiday bundles with the free games were different sku's and they have definitely been discontinued.

Not to say that something new is not coming, I just don't see the Elite and Pro systems going anywhere anytime soon.

Terrence Stasse @ Feb 19th 2008 10:27AM

Yup, they're probably just updating the contents, not changing the price. It's like you said, we won't see the Premium or the Elite disappear.

thisguyrighthere @ Feb 19th 2008 10:34AM

I just picked up an "Arcade" version as a back-up. Seems like every 6 months I have to call up for the "coffin" and ship the thing out. Original or Falcon, makes no difference. Although this time it was the DVD-ROM that died. No RROD here.

I'd like to see a "this time it won't die, we promise" SKU.

E J Wizard @ Feb 19th 2008 10:35AM

I went to buy a new Elite last night because my Launch era console is finally dying out. The guy at Gamestop told me he was sold out of All 360 versions, and the Wii. He asked me if I wanted a Playstation 3, as he had a lot of them. I told him no, of course and he replied with, "I can't sucker anyone into buying a PS3"

I guess I'm waiting for a new SKU and hoping the one I have limps along for however long that takes.

pkilla @ Feb 19th 2008 11:10AM

LOL, Heres a PS3 as a consolation prize, uhhh No Thanks

Cal @ Feb 19th 2008 10:44AM

Of course there's gonna be a new SKU or two on the way,and most probably a price drop too, MS can't afford to get complacent just yet.

Gimpy @ Feb 19th 2008 11:22AM

Probably involves new packaging, also. The live products have go through that change currently.

refinedsugar @ Feb 19th 2008 11:45AM

Whatever happen to that xbox 360 with built-in HD DVD that everyone was banking on happening? Anyone? Rampant speculation and nothing else. No one should be expecting a new SKU with a new chip set.

The Premium/Pro/Elite bundle models (with Forza 2 and MUA) have been discontinued since Christmas. Anyone who knows anything knows this. MS pulled an outdated holiday bundle pack and now they're going to release an updated one or none at all.

That's the real story here, but people love to take rumors and run with them. Especially when you can name drop Amazon's credibility that makes your speculation sound all the more official-like.