You read right. While the initial $99 price tag for a 4GB Xbox 360 and Kinect Sensor may look tempting, the fees you’ll be paying afterwards may detour you away.
While it’s not too bad of a deal, it may seem awfully complicated from just purchasing the console outright. The complication starts at the $15 monthly fee that covers an Xbox Live Gold Subscription, 2 year warranty, and possibly a subscription to one of Xbox Live’s streaming services. Customers will be given a choice of which contract they wish to pursue, both of which last two years. Still, customers should be weary of early termination fees.
Here’s the breakdown:
Option #1
- 4GB Xbox 360 + Kinect: $299
- 2 years of Xbox Live Gold: $120
- Extended warranty (Xbox 360): $25
- Extended warranty (Kinect): $25
- Total: $470
Option #2
- 4GB Xbox 360 + Kinect: $99
- Two years of $15 monthly fees: $360
- Total: $459
There are many gamers who don’t spend $60 a year on a Xbox Live Gold subscription. We can view this bundle as just another way of purchasing an Xbox 360 console, but I think we can all agree on hoping this doesn’t become the norm for next-gen consoles.
This bundle is rumored to be available to purchase as soon as next week.