Get an Xbox One for Only $399 If You “Ditch” Your PS3

Yeah, this sounds like something Microsoft would do. It’ll probably work, too.

As found by a NeoGAF member, Microsoft is holding a special promotion: They’ll sell you a fancy new Xbox One for only $399 ($100 less than the normal retail price) if you “ditch” your old PlayStation 3 at one of its stores in the US.

The picture you see here is from the company’s email ad, and it’s pretty straightforward. The offer is good through March 2 and requires that PS3s be in good working order. This actually applies to old Xbox 360s as well, but of course the PS3 takes center-stage in the ad.

It’s not ironic that the PlayStation 4 retails for $399, and analysts have been saying for months that the price difference really hurts Microsoft’s new console. So, by doing this promotion, Microsoft essentially kills two birds with one stone: They make the price the same as the competition, and they “turn” a former PlayStation fan into an Xbox fan.

Of course, a lot of people are multi-console owners these days, so that won’t always be true. It’s an obvious enticement to make the switch, though.

This will likely prove effective

People just love to save money, especially when we’re talking about a relatively expensive item. A great many have held off on the Xbox One simply because of that prohibitive $500 price tag. Microsoft forces Kinect on you, too, which not everyone wants. Maybe this offer will attract a lot of consumers.