As was expected, Microsoft today held a conference [thanks to Kotaku for translation] to confirm a new price for the Xbox 360 Elite in Japan. The company slashed the price tag from 39,800 yen (about $429) to 29,800 yen (about $321).
Meanwhile, the Arcade model remains 19,800 yen (about $218) and the Pro SKU will have an "open" price, meaning that retailers can set the price however they like in an effort to clear inventory. The Pro model was recently cut to $249 here in the U.S. and will be phased out as well.
Other notable stats mentioned at the event include the fact that Microsoft has now sold 31.4 million Xbox 360s globally; there are over 20 million Xbox Live users; the Halo franchise has sold over 27 million; and downloads on Xbox Live are up 30% for the first half of the year.
