RUMOR: Best Buy to Discontinue the CORE?

[LinkinPrime]

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/07/xboxcoredone1.jpg

Via an anonymous tipster (which are our favorite kinds), Joystiq received picture evidence (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/30/best-buy-done-with-xbox-360-core-model/) that electronics retailer Best Buy is getting rid of the Xbox 360 Core system and isn't going to stock anymore. The tipster supplied sheet shows the Core model with a "deleted" status which means Best Buy has discontinued the item with an "out of stock" date of July 27th. The anonymous tipster also mentioned that the Xbox 360 core preference code is set to "y", which means that the retailer isn't expecting any more stock.

So, with our rumor hat firmly secure on our heads, we have to speculate to what this exactly means. The most obvious conclusion would be that Microsoft themselves is discontinuing the Core system. But that isn't the case, because Joystiq has since heard back from Redmond since running the story and Microsoft is stating that the Core is still important to the 360 offerings and isn't going anywhere. So, could this just be a case of Best Buy removing the SKU due to inventory sake or could the removal of the Core hint at the rumored price cut (http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2007/07/30/more-proof-toys-r-us-ad-hints-at-360-price-cut/)? You know, using the logic that Best Buy feels a soon to be priced $349 Premium system would sell well enough that there'd be no need for the Core does make sense. http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2007/07/30/best-buy-is-axing-the-xbox-360-core/

I don't see why MS would do this, the only thing I can think of is that the regular core will be discontinued and maybe the rumored one with the memory card packed in will replace it...At this point its just speculation.

EDIT: Do'h...fixed title.

[anomynous]

What's a romor?

;)

[menikmati]

Red romor red romor

[PyroGamer]

Hmmmm....


....the answer might be a new Core SKU is coming. Perhaps one with a memory card packed in or something.


Either that or they're discontinuing the core, which makes perfect sense besides MS's denials of it.

[shrike4242]

All this means is that BB is discontinuing the SKU. Might or might not mean the discontinuing of the Core itself.

[CheapyD]

It could also mean the discontination of this particular core system (to make room for new 65nm versions and/or one with a memory card/game pack-in).

Personally, I think 3 SKUs are at least 1 too many. I also think Microsoft would love to include an HD in every box. This opens the door for them to sell movies and TV shows, and that business seems to be doing very well for them.

I guess it comes down to this: Does Microsoft need a $250 box to compete with the Wii?

[dubbfoolio]

It could also mean the discontination of this particular core system (to make room for new 65nm versions and/or one with a memory card/game pack-in).

Personally, I think 3 SKUs are at least 1 too many. I also think Microsoft would love to include an HD in every box. This opens the door for them to sell movies and TV shows, and that business seems to be doing very well for them.

I guess it comes down to this: Does Microsoft need a $250 box to compete with the Wii?

yeah I agree with Cheapy... in the short term they'd probably like to only sell consoles with hard drives because that's where the profit lies, but in the longer term they want to offer consoles as cheaply as possible to spur sales. Slim PS2 on the cheap probably won the console war for Sony.

[GizmoGC]

Was anyone really buying the Core?

[slidecage]

Was anyone really buying the Core?


yes it was one of the better movies i seen in awhile : )


ooo you mean xbox core .... if it was 149 i would

[TrueBlueLS]

I've have no problem with the Core. Hell... it's what I've had since day one, just a little modified now.

[62t]

the core is probably the most profitable version of x360, but it really should be gone a long time ago.

[RAMSTORIA]

the core is probably the most profitable version of x360, but it really should be gone a long time ago.

no way, 100 dollars for a 20gig hard drive? cmon now, thats huge profit right there. my guess is they wont sell any cores once the 65nm units start being made.

[PyroGamer]

the core is probably the most profitable version of x360, but it really should be gone a long time ago.
How the hell is the core more profitable? I suppose if you expect core owners will wind up spending more on accessories... but it sure as hell isn't the most profitable up-front.

[62t]

with core you have to spend more money to get the accessories from the other version of X360. The accessories usually has the highest markup.

[shrike4242]

It could also mean the discontination of this particular core system (to make room for new 65nm versions and/or one with a memory card/game pack-in).

Personally, I think 3 SKUs are at least 1 too many. I also think Microsoft would love to include an HD in every box. This opens the door for them to sell movies and TV shows, and that business seems to be doing very well for them.

I guess it comes down to this: Does Microsoft need a $250 box to compete with the Wii?I think if they don't pitch the Core, it'll come back in a Falcon/65nm system with packed-in 64MB mem card at $249.99 to match the Wii. If they do pitch the Core, then it'll force the marketing types to pull out all the reasons why it's worth spending $100 more from the Wii to get to the 360 Premium.

Oh, and at the moment, they have 4 SKU's: Core, Premium, Halo 3 Premium and Elite. They'd have to axe two to get down to the two SKU scenario.

[Apossum]

I agree with Cheapy on this...the SKUs are out of control this gen for MS and Sony. I thought the Elite went too far, then the 80gb ps3 seemed like a bad joke...and now it's "we're clearing out [X] to make way for [Y]"

[SynGamer]

I think if they don't pitch the Core, it'll come back in a Falcon/65nm system with packed-in 64MB mem card at $249.99 to match the Wii. If they do pitch the Core, then it'll force the marketing types to pull out all the reasons why it's worth spending $100 more from the Wii to get to the 360 Premium.

Oh, and at the moment, they have 4 SKU's: Core, Premium, Halo 3 Premium and Elite. They'd have to axe two to get down to the two SKU scenario.

What if they dropped the Premium? I personally think 3 SKU's is too much. Have the Core wit ha 64 MB card packed in at $249 and then the Elite with the 120 GB HDD at $399. They are already used to losing money but i'm fairly sure MS will get a lot of sales with the Elite at $399.

That would have them offering the entry-level Core unit with a memory card so that people can still get online. But it competes with the Wii (for now) and then the Elite at $399 is at least $100 cheaper than the PS3 (for now)...

Keep in mind the Nintendo is already making a profit on the Wii, so we could easily see a $199 Wii sometime early next year.

[SynGamer]

I think if they don't pitch the Core, it'll come back in a Falcon/65nm system with packed-in 64MB mem card at $249.99 to match the Wii. If they do pitch the Core, then it'll force the marketing types to pull out all the reasons why it's worth spending $100 more from the Wii to get to the 360 Premium.

Oh, and at the moment, they have 4 SKU's: Core, Premium, Halo 3 Premium and Elite. They'd have to axe two to get down to the two SKU scenario.

I don't think you can really consider the Halo 3 edition 360 as one of the SKU's. I believe it is a limited edition.

[Don Wuebos]

whether or not it's limited edition, if the core is still around at the time it drops.
That's 4 sku's clusterfucking the stores and leaving customers frustrated going" WTF 4 choices?"

seriously. HD needs to be in every box anyway. imo.

[road3283]

As people have mentioned dropping the Core to 250 is a great way to go head to head with the Wii. But MS seems to always mention how they aren't really competing with the Wii... How it's a different market and all... If they really feel that way, this really could be the end of the core.

[Monsta Mack]

The Core ends up being more profitable if the customer goes out and buys new accessories at the store, but if it comes packed in with a memory card in the future it will be less profit for MS.

I know when the 360s were hard to find in their first 6 months or so I ended up buying a core with the HD and a over priced memory card, so I spent more on the Core.

[Puzznic]

I kind of hope they keep the Core around and add the better chip and HDMI. That way early adopters would have a somewhat cheap way to replace their old console without rebuying a bunch of stuff they don't need.

They really should get to 2 SKUs though.