Microsoft: $99 for a 250GB Xbox on Two Year Contract

Back in May, Microsoft introduced a subsidized Xbox 360 bundle that allowed customers to pick up a new 4 GB Xbox 360 and the Kinect motion sensor for only $99. The catch was that you also had to subscribe to a new two-year Xbox Live Gold contract for $14.99 a month. Microsoft originally had this offer only at its Microsoft stores but it was expanded to additional retailers in June.

Things must be going well for Redmond and its subsidized Xbox, though, as the company today added two new bundles to the subsidy program. Microsoft's site now shows a 250 GB XBox for $99 on a two-year contract, and a 250 GB model with Kinect for $149 on a two-year contract. It also looks like Microsoft may be expanding beyond Best Buy, GameStop, and the Microsoft store, as the website invites visitors to "check back later to see a full list of participating retailers."

There will, of course, be an Early Termination Fee for those that decide to drop their Xbox Live service before the two-year contract expires. Microsoft hasn't offered additional details on the ETF, but we assume it'll be something similar to before, which was up to $250, depending on the remaining time on the contract.

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  • drwho1
    Microsoft: $99 for a 250GB Xbox on Two Year Contract...are the calls FREE?
    /sarcasm
    Reply
  • wolley74
    It wouldn't be that great to get one on a deal now with the new Xbox coming sometime next year
    Reply
  • spartanmk2
    Is there an early termination fee?
    Reply
  • These damn things should ONLY cost $99 dollars. Goddamn 6 year old technology...
    Reply
  • madjimms
    $359.76 JUST for 2 years of gold? I could just buy a normal 250GB xbox & save money....

    Oh & I didn't include the $99 in my calculation of $14.99*24.
    Reply
  • masterasia
    Is the PS3 dead?
    Reply
  • Johmama
    How are they going to charge you if you cancel your subscription?

    A while back, I had auto-renew on my Live, and they required a phone call to change it from that, which was REALLY annoying. I spent months being mad that I had to call them to cancel it, but not really doing anything about it. Then I lost the credit card that was tied to my Live account and needless to say, I canceled the card. Fast-forward to when my Live subscription was up, it said it couldn't charge my card and asked for another way to pay.

    So my question is: if I buy this subsidized deal and cancel the card attached to my Live account, how will they charge me a) the remaining months of Live and b) an early cancellation fee.

    I'm sure Microsoft has already thought of this, God forbid they overlook some way to get their money; I'm just wondering how they do it now.
    Reply
  • deadlockedworld
    This model actually makes a lot of sense from a business standpoint. Shifting more profit to the subscription side would let them subsidize better hardware (just like the smartphone market).

    I'm betting this is a trial run, and the next xbox is ONLY available on contract - pushing consumers into other bundled online MS services like music, etc.
    Reply
  • SteelCity1981
    why would anyone buy an xbox 360 noew new when the xbox 720 is a year away and how can they call this a deal when you are spending 15 dollars a month for the next two years for xbox live? Now i don't know if this was done on purpose or what but that comes out to "360" dollars, ironic isn't it.
    Reply
  • SteelCity1981
    why would anyone buy an xbox 360 noew new when the xbox 720 is a year away and how can they call this a deal when you are spending 15 dollars a month for the next two years for xbox live? Now i don't know if this was done on purpose or what but that comes out to "360" dollars, ironic isn't it.
    Reply