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Microsoft makes Xbox 360 more affordable for Asian markets

Earlier this week, Microsoft dropped the price of the Xbox 360 by up to one-fifth in four Asian markets. New prices are effective in South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The bundle which includes the 20 GB hard disk drive dropped 20 percent in Singapore (S$499; US$366), 17 percent in Taiwan (NT$10,360 ; US340), 11 percent in Hong Kong and 5.1 percent in South Korea (369,000 won; US$369).

“This price drop is part of Microsoft’s ongoing strategy to bring Xbox’s high-definition gaming and entertainment experience to an even wider user base,” Microsoft said in a statement.

Japanese game companies Nintendo and Sony appear to hold greater mindshare in the buyer’s market in Asia. Microsoft hopes that the latest price drops will help spur demand to better compete with the Wii and PlayStation 3.

In March, Microsoft dropped the price of its console in Europe by margins great enough to drop below the Wii’s price. In February, Canadians could buy their consoles at the exact same MSRP as their U.S. counterparts.

The largest share of Xbox 360 gamers, however, are in the U.S. Microsoft recently reported that its Entertainment and Devices division was a bright point in the company, posting an operating profit of $89 million for Q3.