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Microsoft is reportedly keen and interested in bringing its subscription based Xbox 360 system setup to the UK and Europe if the current run of $99 Xbox 360 console + 2 year subscriptions are successful over in the US.
Gaming website VG247 is reporting that they have spoken to Xbox Europe head Chris Lewis and he himself has stated that they will be very interested in in how the US consumers take to the cheap Xbox and subscription payments idea.
In the US consumers are able to pick a relatively cheap Xbox 360 4GB model plus a Kinect motion controller system for just $99 but with the catch of a two-year subscription to Xbox Live Gold at $14.99 per month.
Initially the offer was only available through one of 26 Microsoft stores across the US but it soon hit large retail chains such as Best Buy and GameStop in the US.
Currently US subscribers save a small $40 on the deal as the cheapest Xbox 360 and Kinect bundle is about $299.99 and a year of Xbox Live Gold is $59.99, costing about $460.
The big thing however is the tie in to the Xbox Live service for a further 2 years with a buyout system in place if the customer decides to finish the contract early.
Is the cheaper Xbox and small saving really worth a lengthy contract, especially with the next round of consoles reportedly just around the corner?
In the statement to VG247 Chris Lewis said:
“It’ll be very interesting to see how it works out. We listen to what the consumers are asking for and we experiment with different propositions in different markets.
“There are certain things we’ve done in Europe over the years, for example; a lot of our soft and hard bundling initiatives have ended up becoming global initiatives based on consumption patterns. The one you describe there, we’ll similarly track that and see how that goes down. I think it’ll be very popular.”
If we were looking at a similar bundle for the Xbox 360 users we would expect something along the lines of a £50 Xbox 360 bundle with £8.99 per month subscription, which will give an equal saving of around £40.
Would you buy a new console along with a subscription?
Check out our: Gaming: From infant to grown up; the evolution of the games console
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