Microsoft’s Kinect peripheral was the fastest-selling gadget of all time, and has propelled the Redmond company’s Xbox 360 console to the summit of the console wars. Sony’s PlayStation Move offers similar features, but simply hasn’t managed to yield the popularity of Kinect, and for those of you who’ve yet to get involved in the interaction-fest, you can now grab your very own Kinect sensor for the reduced price of $109.99.
The Nintendo Wii, while not regarded as a top console in terms of graphics, power and overall performance, captivated most whom played it by means of interactivity, and Microsoft certainly latched onto that when it introduced the Kinect at the end of 2010.
With the Kinect 2 currently in the works (along with the next-generation Xbox), Steve Ballmer’s company is looking to shift as many of the current product range as physically possible. This notion was outlined earlier this summer with the software maker’s move to subsidize its popular console-Kinect combo. One can – at Microsoft Stores only – purchase both the Xbox 360 and Kinect for a mere $99, with a small monthly fee offering Xbox LIVE Gold membership for 24 months.
On top of that, the Kinect has just dropped significantly to $109.99, although the new price is only applicable to those residing Stateside. So if you live in the USA, and you’ve been looking for an excuse to pick up a Kinect in the past year or two, this is as good an excuse as any. If you don’t live in North America, don’t fret, as Microsoft has promised similar price deductions are on the way for gamers in Latin America and Asia Pacific regions. Meanwhile, Australians and New Zealanders will see reduced prices from October 5th, but those in Europe, Japan, the Middle East, and Africa will not be getting a price-drop – at least not immediately – but we’ll be sure to keep an eye out and let you know if the situation changes.
It previously retailed at $149.99, so that’s a decent chunk of nearly one-third that has been slashed off the original selling price in the US. We’re not expecting such a decent reduction in other regions, but the Kinect has always been good value for money, so any change saved is a bonus.
(via MajorNelson)
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