Purchasing a game console outright can really break the bank for someone on a budget, but Microsoft's newly announced contracted Xbox 360 program gives gamers more time to pay for their new system.
Operating on a model similar to that of a cell phone contract, the buyer would purchase the gaming system at a base cost of $99 US and then pay off the balance at a rate of $15/month over a two-year term.
The two year subscription also comes with the addition of Xbox Live Gold access for online streaming and gaming and the user's system will also be covered by warranty throughout the duration of their contract. This is the first time that a video game provider has offered an alternative payment method for their systems and will certainly promote more users to pick up a console for their living room.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Pay-as-you-play Game Consoles
- The idea of purchase consoles in installments creates opportunities for businesses to make gaming more accessible for budget-constraint customers.
- Alternative Payment Models
- The success of pay-as-you-play gaming consoles suggests that alternative payment models may be profitable for other tech industries like mobile devices and laptops.
- Gaming Subscription Services
- The integration of subscriptions with game consoles opens up possibilities for gaming subscription services to expand and offer similar purchase plans.
Where This Applies
- Gaming Industry
- The gaming industry can capitalize on providing more accessible pricing models to attract budget-constraint customers.
- Tech Industry
- Tech companies could utilize alternative payment models to attract price-sensitive customers for high-ticket items like cell phones and laptops.
- Subscription-based Industry
- Subscription-based industries can adapt similar payment plans and grow their subscriber base to include price-sensitive users.
