After the price cuts in Europe and Australia this year, Microsoft has dropped the price of the Xbox 360 in Japan this time, the area with the least sales. This will make the Arcade console the cheapest next-gen console in Japan.

Following Xbox 360 March and July price cuts in Europe and Australia, respectively, comes more price reduction love for the Xbox 360 units in another region. No, not North America (at least not yet), but the console’s least profitable region, Japan.

All three Xbox 360 models are said to go down in price, with the Arcade dropping to JPY 19,800 ($183 or 125 EUR) from JPY 27,800 ($257 or 176 EUR), and the Premium and Elite systems expected to be slashed by 5,000-8,000 yen. This move will make the Arcade unit the cheapest current-gen console in the Land of the Rising Sun, with the Wii trailing by more than 5,000 yen and the Playstation 3 by 20,000 yen.

Twisted via reuters.com »