Source: Microsoft to discontinue Xbox 360 Core
- July 30, 2007 13:19 PM PST
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A Best Buy inventory sheet sent in by an anonymous store employee suggests that Microsoft will discontinue the Xbox 360 Core model once the rumored $50 price drop affects the console this August. Microsoft denied the assertion.
An alleged Best Buy inventory sheet suggesting the Core 360 is dead
According to the source who sent in the alleged store sheet to Joystiq, Best Buy will "delete" the 360 Core from its inventory, meaning the product is out of stock. Furthermore, the above sheet implies that replenishments are not expected.
When asked if Microsoft would discontinue the Xbox 360 Core model amid the reported Best Buy drop, a Microsoft representative told GamePro: "No. Xbox 360 Core remains an important member of the Xbox 360 family."
Earlier this month, corporate vice president Shane Kim had this to say in an interview with GamePro on rumors that the Core model might be discontinued.
"It's definitely here to stay," Kim said. "We've got a great line up from Core to Elite, and there's that set of customers that want the lower price point who want the vast majority of the functionality of the Xbox 360, and you get that with the Core."
Kim added that his company is "pushing back" on any publisher that encourages hard drive-enabled games that could not be playable on the Core version.
With all the conflicting evidence, we'll have to wait and see on this one as Best Buy could be the only retailer to discontinue selling the Core (could, though not likely). Also, the Core was already a crippled machine, but image what it could do if it came bundled with a memory card for saving games at a rumored $50 reduction in price. A $250 Xbox 360 that could save games? That could be a nice little incentive for any still holding out on next-gen.
