The Verge is reporting Microsoft will roll out an Xbox bundle with a 4 GB console and the Kinect motion sensor for $99. The package will be available in Microsoft retail stores.
Bought as a bundle, the console and Kinect are available now for $300. So, how is Microsoft able to offer this so cheap?
There is one big catch, says the report. The package includes a two-year subscription plan for $15 a month. Users can break the subscription for an early termination fee, but the report does not disclose an amount.
The subscription includes membership to Microsoft’s Xbox Live Gold service, a two-year warranty and possibly extra streaming content.
It’s an attractive package for those who want to spread out the costs of owning an Xbox 360. However, if true, it’s actually a bit more expensive, as The Verge points out.
Currently, Microsoft sells an Xbox 360 4 GB bundle with Kinect for $300. Add in two years of Xbox Live Gold at $60 a year and consumers pay $420.
With the new plan, a $99 bundle plus a two-year subscription at $15 a month will cost nearly $460.
The report arrives as Microsoft and fellow video game companies prep for the industry’s big showcase: next month’s Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.
