Microsoft confirmed $199.99 this morning as the Kinect price we're all going to see when the device launches later this year. They also unveiled a $299.99 console bundle that will include Kinect and "Kinect Adventures." Before both of those are commercially available, however, Microsoft is going to roll out a $199.99 4GB Xbox on August 3. The 4GB will come in the form of internal flash memory, but it will also have an empty slot for a new hard drive and the ability to use USB memory sticks for extra storage.
"The flexibility is definitely there for a hard drive," Microsoft product manager Aaron Greenberg told Kotaku, "but at the time being we are not offering any upgrades."
$150 Xbox 360 Arcade bundles will fade away in the wake of the new offering, which will sport that slimmer, blacker look that Microsoft premiered at E3 in June. It will also come equipped with a special, proprietary socket for Kinect, which will attach to older 360s via USB plugs.
The memory versatility is going to be appreciated by lots of 360 owners when these come out, and for entry-level users, it sounds like a fine value.
What do you think of the 4GB 360 bundles? Are you going to be in the market for new console this year? Share your responses in the comment section below.