MS cuts price of 120GB 360 drive

By Robert Purchese Published 3 February, 2010

But no mention of a 250GB accessory.

Microsoft appears to have no plans to release a 250GB standalone hard drive for the Xbox 360 in Europe.

Instead, the platform holder has reduced the price of the 120GB hard drive from £99.99 to £79.99 - "while supplies last".

"Microsoft is now offering a standalone 250GB hard drive in Japan to provide consumers in Japan more storage options for their games and entertainment. We work closely with retailers to determine the best approach for our products on a region-by-region basis," Microsoft told Eurogamer in response to yesterday's news.

"In Europe, the 120GB Hard Drive is available for an ERP of €129.99 / £79.99 while supplies last. We also offer other storage options for consumers to choose from such as the Xbox Live 60GB Starter Pack that includes a 60GB Hard Drive, three-month subscription to Xbox LIVE, Ethernet Cable and Wired Headset for an ERP of €79.99 / £59.99."

We're not sure what "while supplies last means"; maybe Microsoft is clearing the way for a 250GB HDD. We'll look into it.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (62) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • sneetch #1 2 years ago

    I've found that "while supplies last" normally means "we will not be restocking this product because we'll be replacing it with a better one".

  • Emmit_Assassin #2 2 years ago

    Sorry, still not interested. Still too massively expensive for an HDD. My 20gb will have to do.

    /weeps gently...
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 17:12

  • insincere_dave #3 2 years ago

    Yeah, hmm, I wonder what they will replace the 120gb SKU *dies a little inside* with when they run out. If only there was a drive size roughly double 120gb that had already been announced for other territories.
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 17:08

  • Shakey_Jake33 #4 2 years ago

    Wow, cut it by another 50% and we might be entering the 'sane price' range!

  • bad09 #5 2 years ago

    80 quid for 120gb? Bargain!

    / shakes head, keeps 20gb HDD, chuckles at MS as THEY lose out in the long run

  • Syrette #6 2 years ago

    MS really do make me cringe sometimes.

  • dsmx #7 2 years ago

    yet another reason why the ps3 costs you a lot less over the lifespan of the console.

  • Masaroth #8 2 years ago

    Thats the rrp though so i imagine the retailers will knock some more of the price off espically the online ones. As i got my 120gb for about 70 a year and a half ago.

    Thats more than enough space for game related storage, everything else just sits a 1TB NAS.

  • miiiguel #9 2 years ago

    This is getting boring, everyone is posting the same thing, year in/ year out.

  • kesouk #10 2 years ago

    I got an elite plus Assasins Creed 2 and MW2 for £200

    Then I sold my 3 year old 20 GB Pro and a few old poop games for £130. AC2 and MW2 then sold for £35 each, and my HD transfer cable for £30.

    As a result, I upgraded to a brand new 360 elite, and got paid £30 to do so... New warranty to boot!

  • Rich72 #11 2 years ago

    ended up buying a new elite rather than pay for the HDD. the old bird needed a rest anyway so i could justify it to myself.

    anyway new console, 4 games and extra controller for 200 notes seemed a no brainer.

  • LazyNinjaUk #12 2 years ago

    I'm sure the Japanese market gets a 250gb hdd because they need the extra space to store all the dirty pictures saved off Dead or Alive beach Paradise, European gamers obviously don't need as much grumble storage.

  • Demiath #13 2 years ago

    Recently replaced my (still working) 20 GB HDD launch 360 with a 250 GB Modern Warfare 2 Xbox. Couldn't care less about MW2, but being able to install every game I want to play is awfully convenient...

  • des #14 2 years ago

    250GB 360 incoming...

  • WinterSnowblind #15 2 years ago

    No where even seems to sell the damn things anymore. Bring in the new 250gb one at £80, then I'd perhaps upgrade. But I'm at the point where my 20gb is limiting me from buying more games. It's really in Microsofts best interest to sell one of these to me, and they're really not achieving that.

  • ronuds #16 2 years ago

    Woo hoo!!!

  • smelly #17 2 years ago

    20 gig is more than enough for me

    i only play 1 game at a time, so only have the game im currently playing installed.

  • NewbieZilla #18 2 years ago

    "yet another reason why the ps3 costs you a lot less over the lifespan of the console."

    A lot less, too because you don't even have to spend money on games. What games are there? Oh, my bad. Ye have maybe 3 games worth owning. I'm sorry.

  • mkreku #19 2 years ago

    So basically they reduced the prize from "offensively overpriced" to "ridiculously overprized"? Good good.

    I was just looking at a 500GB hd for my cousin's PS3 today.. it costs 80€ (Hitachi Travelstar).

  • ronuds #20 2 years ago

    @ NewbieZilla

    Don't feed the trolls! :p

    I don't know if people who own PS3s realize the HDD cost is built into the price - and that the price they charge isn't far off from what MS charges. Also, if you choose to replace the HDD, you've only then added to what you've already paid for the drive that came with the unit because that HDD gets throw in the garbage. Don't tell anyone! Shhhh!!!

  • RedSparrows #21 2 years ago

    'Sorry, still not interested. Still too massively expensive for an HDD. My 20gb will have to do.

    /weeps gently... '

    QFT.

  • IneptPercy #22 2 years ago

    "yet another reason why the ps3 costs you a lot less over the lifespan of the console. "

    Because I am not forced to install any games my 20GB is still fine, Its a good job you can upgrade the PS3 drive cheaply with the installs you need to play your games.

    But I do still agree the prices are a silly, can't you crack open an old drive and put a bigger one in these days?

  • Emmit_Assassin #23 2 years ago

    @RedSparrows

    What the fuck is QFT? Can you people just stop being lazy and write what you mean instead of using annoying acronyms, please? Its not big, and its not clever.

  • Widge #24 2 years ago

    But if you don't install your games, how do you bear THE NOISE?

  • miiiguel #25 2 years ago

    Dear Trolls, if I buy a PS3 will you stop being "so funny" ? That's the point isn't it ? Sell PS3s?
    Edited by 2 at 03/02/10 @ 18:21

  • Linkified #26 2 years ago

    Think Eurogamer staff why do you cut a price of a product that consumers still buy in there droves: 1) they are replacing it 2) goodwill. Businesses don't do any goodwill gestures, therefore why because they want to subtly nudge people in to buying more digital content

  • Emmit_Assassin #27 2 years ago

    @teh9182

    Amazon aren't doing that deal, as far as I can see anyway. If they were I'd buy it. You got a link?

  • miiiguel #28 2 years ago

    http://ww w.amazon.co.uk/Super-Elite-Cons...

    oh man... I swear it was 199 like the previous poster said, like 10 minutes ago... seriously!
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 18:24

  • Emmit_Assassin #29 2 years ago

    @teh9182
    I know its an acronym, and it probably is well used online. Its still fucking lazy.

  • Emmit_Assassin #30 2 years ago

    @miiiguel
    Thats the one I found, but its £220 with no extra controller. Just wondered where the one teh9182 found was.

    /reads miiiguel's last comment. Never mind. Cheers anyway.
    Edited by 2 at 03/02/10 @ 18:27

  • miiiguel #31 2 years ago

    It was 199.99, a few minutes ago! Swear!, it was in the top sellers as well.

  • interceptor #32 2 years ago

    If you shop around you can get them for cheaper than 79.99. Just use the power of the internet!!

    For example, bestofferbuy.com has them for £49.46 with free shipping

  • MiniAmin #33 2 years ago

    "While stocks last"

    As if this is radical sarcasm new price point will make the 120GB drives fly off the shelves.
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 18:37

  • penhalion #34 2 years ago

    We're not sure what "while supplies last means"; maybe Microsoft is clearing the way for a 250GB HDD. We'll look into it.

    I'm going to take it this is meant to be sarcasm.

  • GiarcYekrub #35 2 years ago

    Good I want either a 500GB or 1TB one please, to be honest I'm waiting till Natal is release as that may contain a bigger one

  • Mnia786 #36 2 years ago

    More like "MS lower already extortionate prices to something a little less extortionate."

  • Murton #37 2 years ago

    Also, if you choose to replace the HDD, you've only then added to what you've already paid for the drive that came with the unit because that HDD gets throw in the garbage. Don't tell anyone! Shhhh!!!

    Or you buy an external enclosure for less than a tenner and turn your old drive into a USB powered portable unit, as most sensible people would.

    I must ask though, who exactly do MS think they're fooling by giving a "no comment" answer to the release of 250gb in Europe yesterday and then announcing a "while stocks last" price cut today?

  • Emmit_Assassin #38 2 years ago

    @teh9182

    Very good. But missing a single apostrophe is a little different to missing out entire words.

  • Agent_Llama #39 2 years ago

    £50 from BestOfferBuy.com is very tempting, but now I've held out this long with my little 20 gig hard drive, maybe I should wait a bit longer. Eek.

  • crazyhorse174 #40 2 years ago

    Good I want either a 500GB or 1TB one please, to be honest I'm waiting till Natal is release as that may contain a bigger one

    What? The camera that sits on top of your telly that connects to your 360 that may allegedly sell for about £50 may have a bigger HDD in it??

  • Anthony_UK #41 2 years ago

    I ain't paying £80 for a 150gb harddrive you crazy fools!

    £50 and we'll talk!

    /Deletes space from 20gb drive for latest demo :-(

  • MeBrains #42 2 years ago

    miiiguel: no, just buy another 360 instead.

    * again amazed at how much I read some have more that one 360 or intend buying another *

  • StooMonster #43 2 years ago

    I bought a new official 120GB hard drive for my Jasper Arcade model in December 2008 for £69 from Gamestation.

    So, it's now "on sale" for more than I paid then!?!?!?!

  • jag10 #44 2 years ago

    why do people think every PS3 games needs a forced install? most games don't need an install, uncharted 2 has no install and that doesn't even have any loading during single player gameplay.

  • Darren #45 2 years ago

    £80 is a better price but it's still too expensive IMO. I know it's a 2.5" 5,400 rpm HDD which tend to be more expensive than the same capacity 3.5" drive but I picked up a 3.5 7,200 rpm 1 TB Samsung SpinPoint F3 just before Christmas for £60 and that same price can net you a 500 GB HDD for a PS3.

    If Microsoft had any respect for its users then they'd release a shell that allowed people to fit any third-party HDD but, sadly for us, making as much money as possible is top of their agenda. I mean they still insist on selling the wireless adaptor for £50-£60 which is about £25-£30 too much IMO. Greedy bastards.

  • MARKIV #46 2 years ago

    Save your cash everyone, the new redesigned blu-ray natal 360 is coming in September with a 250gb drive I bet! Plus Halo Reach a week later..!

  • Diomedes #47 2 years ago

    Clearance sale,its obvious.

  • chessboxer #48 2 years ago

    Actually the Wii is cheaper than an 360 Arcade, however most places sell it bundled with a game, pushing its price up. By not allowing the Wii to play DVDs (didn't know it couldn't play audio CDs), Nintendo were able to keep the price low as they don't have to pay for those codec licences.

  • SpaceMonkey77 #49 2 years ago

    IF MS were to cut that to £50, I'd be more likely to invest in one. I'm 2010 is my fifth year with my first 360, still working fine, but my 20gb drive is teetering on the edge, that pretty soon, I won't be able to download and play demos.

    I think I might just hunt for a cheap 60gb drive, to replace my 20gb. That should keep me going for a while, until 120gb are at a more reasonable, affordable price. Im not installing games it, so I should be alright.

    I think that the 250gb in japan, is just to test reception of it there, before bringing it to us.

  • actionfitz #50 2 years ago

    ""In Europe, the 120GB Hard Drive is available for an ERP of €129.99 / £79.99 while supplies last."

    hmm. lets do some shopping!
    Google search: "120GB SATA Hard drive"

    oh look!:
    Western Digital 120GB U100 5400RPM 8MB
    - $49.99 new, Newegg.com
    - £45.23 inc vat, Dabs.com

    How the hell do these people sleep at night?
    :(

    oh btw, I got my 120GB drive off ebay, shipped from Hong Kong. £40. /win

    for anyone more technically minded, here's the DIY method:
    http://ww w.pcworld.com/article/150970/up...

    or even:

    forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=660096]http://fo rums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?s...
    Edited by 2 at 03/02/10 @ 23:46

  • GamesConnoisseur #51 2 years ago

    I ll fully agree that Wii is much more overpriced than X360 for the value of the product, but the reality is consumers always compares the current prices for similar products. People would happily pay if they know there are choosing the middle of the road prices, ie not bottom priced trashy ones or rip off expensive stuff and unfortunately MS accessories are clearly on the top scale of prices.

    People aren't fool and MS need to work out if they would have sold more by reducing their prices, PS3 was SLOW until the new attractive pricing and model helped PS3 past the mental barrier.

    I am in sore need for 250 gb but must be sub £100!

  • chessboxer #52 2 years ago

    That 360 Arcade is in sale, it's RRP without any games is £159.99, hence the Wii on its own is cheaper however as we both stated, most places sell them bundled with a game.

  • Murton #53 2 years ago

    The Wii can ply embedded video in its web browser and aren't Nintendo launching a Netflix channel later this year? Seems to me that the Wii already has at least some video codecs.

    More likely that Nintendo just didn't want to write a media player into the Wii's OS for whatever reason, probably to distance itself from the "entertainment hub" ploy dreamt up by both MS and Sony marketing execs and concentrate on being a pure gaming console.

  • dnbuk #54 2 years ago

    Jesus! I got my 120gb off ebay for 60 quid just after they came out.

  • mattigan #55 2 years ago

    Got mine for £20 at HMV when they were on sale, as for the Amazon price change thingy, I heard that they have some snazzy price tailoring thing they use to dynamically alter the prices on the site based on your browser (cookie) history. Try clearing your cache, or waiting a couple of hours and check again to see if the price has 'magically' lowered back to what it was before.

  • StooMonster #56 2 years ago

    Murton: aren't Nintendo launching a Netflix channel later this year

    Firstly, Netflix is unfortunately only available in USA; although if Amazon buy them as rumoured this may change.

    Secondly, low quality; although Wii can handle H.264 codec, it can only do low bandwidth with it's CPU power; for example BBC iPlayer uses 700kbit/sec on the Wii as opposed to 1500kbit/sec on PC / FreeSat / PS3 / iPhone versions.

    Edit: and the embedded Flash plug-in version used the Sorenson Spark codec at around 500kbit/sec; so hopefully Netflix will be like BBC and use H.264 (although it's still not as good as other devices).
    Edited by 1 at 04/02/10 @ 10:12

  • Caimbeul #57 2 years ago

    still too expensive..no thanks although struggling with 13Gb is tough.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #58 2 years ago

    They should charge us only half of what it costs to make, like they did with the console.
    But then that wouldn't be a good business model would it.

  • zedzee #59 2 years ago

    "We work closely with retailers to determine the best approach for our products on a region-by-region basis,"

    OK, so now Microsoft is dictating what's good for us in UK/Euroland, because it knows best???

    Microsoft are worse than f*cking Sony. They've both shot themselves ever sooo badly in the foot this generation around.

    @ teh9182:

    Are you serious about wasting 3.82GB worth of precious HDD space on...Haze...?

    Generally speaking, Microsoft and Sony should sell NAS boxes as accessories to consoles. That way, games can install on Network Attached Storage devices and they can in turn act as streaming servers for any device in the home that's connected to the network; streaming of music, films, photos can be achieved if only UPnP and Samba were supported protocols on the X360 and PS3 consoles. While game saves and game installs can also be placed on these remote storage devices.

  • thecapsaicinkid #60 2 years ago

    Just trade your 20Gb 360 in for an Elite, you'll pay about an extra £35 over just buying the 120Gb drive but get 2 games in the package and a shiny new black Xbox.

  • CHAZBIGPOTATO #61 2 years ago

    "'Sorry, still not interested. Still too massively expensive for an HDD. My 20gb will have to do.

    /weeps gently... '

    QFT."

    QQFTFT

    (Sorry Emmit!)

  • cyber_nicco #62 2 years ago

    "yet another reason why the ps3 costs you a lot less over the lifespan of the console. "

    Main reason is you don't end up buying any games for it.