Cheap XBOX 360 Consoles, Games & Accessories

Xbox 360 Slim

With a number of different Xbox 360 models on the market, bundled with hard drives of varying sizes, buying a new console can seem a little bit overwhelming. There are many things to consider when making your decision, such as backward compatibility, video game choices, and additional accessories. This Xbox 360 buyer's guide aims to help you work out exactly what you're looking for when it comes to cheap Xbox 360 deals, and just how much you can save if you do.

The Xbox 360 Console

The Xbox 360 has changed much since it was first released back in 2005, with a number of console revisions and different releases. The latest Xbox 360 is unofficially known as the "slim" and it consists of two models which you can purchase right now. The 4GB Xbox 360 Slim system has an RRP of £129.99 and the 250GB Xbox 360 Slim system has an RRP of £179.99.

The latest Xbox 360 versions have built in wi-fi for instant connection to the internet and Xbox Live. They also includes a host of other features, in which they have created a quieter, sleeker and more efficient Xbox 360 package. As of today, these are the only models in production.

NB. Older Xbox 360 models can still be bought pre-owned (they're sometimes know as "fat" models), often for well under £100, but the reliability of units built before 2009 may be suspect due to a difference in CPU/GPU chipsets. Additionally, the cheap price isn't the only factor. You run the risk of purchasing a console that has been banned from Xbox Live due to illegal mods or hacks. Buyer beware.

Which Xbox 360 Console Bundle Is Right For You?

When choosing an Xbox 360 console deal, you should ask yourself:

• What are you going to be using the Xbox 360 for?
• How much time and effort do you want to spend in finding the cheapest Xbox 360 deals?

Cheapest 4GB Xbox 360 Console Bundle Deals

4GB is a relatively small size for a hard drive, but for an Xbox 360 console that retails for around £129.99, it’s sufficient as it's enough space for a handful of save game files. If you're looking for a cheap Xbox 360 console deal to simply support family gaming and, in particular, Xbox Kinect – then this Xbox console is likely to be a good first step.

Increasing Hard Drive Space

For those who initially find a cheap 4GB Xbox 360 deal but later want to expand their hard drive capacity to account for multimedia storage, there are additional options. An extra 250GB of storage space costs around £60, with 320GB available for £65 to £70, both affordable options for future storage needs. You can purchase additional Xbox 360 hard drives from many reputable online stores, with Amazon being a good place to start looking.

Cheap 250GB Xbox 360 Deals

The 250GB Xbox is a console designed to target the serious gamer, and the basic retail price of this one is £199.99, but it typically sells for around £179 and £189.

If you plan on using your Xbox console as a media device as well as for gaming, then it would be recommended that you buy the larger capacity console at the outset.

Xbox Kinect Deals

The motion control device for the Xbox 360 is known as the Xbox Kinect and it is a potential initial purchase when buying your Xbox 360. As the Kinect is more than just a fun device, it can also be used to video chat to other Xbox 360 owners, it can be used for Xbox 360 dashboard functions, it's worth considering.

A 4GB Xbox Kinect deal will cost around £210 to £220 and come packaged with all the hardware and Kinect Adventures, which is a fun mini-game collection to help you get started.

For the 250GB Xbox Kinect bundles, the focus here is clearly on providing a media hub for consumers. 250GB Kinect bundles do exist but are quite pricey at around £240 to £250. That said, if you're looking for storage and family fun, this is absolutely the best deal to go for, even at the recommended retail price.

Tips on finding Xbox 360 Console Bundle Deals

If any 4GB Xbox 360 console deal dips under the £100 mark, it’s worth considering. A quick hard drive purchase and you've saved £20+ on buying the higher capacity Xbox 360 model.

If you buy a 4GB Xbox 360 and then an additional 320GB hard drive, you can get a 320GB console for under £200.

Always price compare the individual components in a bundle deal. For example, if Amazon are offering a cheap Xbox 360 console bundled with a popular game, check the prices of each item on other sites. Just because it's a bundle deal doesn't necessarily mean that you cannot buy the items cheaper elsewhere, for a lower total price.

Another option is buying an Xbox 360 bundle and selling the games you don't want. If it's a totally super bundle price but there are a few games you were not interested in, consider buying it anyway and selling the unwanted titles. You can quickly check out the current market prices for those titles on eBay or on CEX.

Don't be afraid to hunt around for pre-owned consoles made after 2009 (e.g. Xbox 360 Elite, Xbox 360 Arcade). Refurbished 120GB or 250GB Xbox 360s often sell for less than £100.

Xbox LIVE

Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the world of Xbox 360, there are two absolute essentials when leaping online...and HUKD has your back when it comes to finding cheap Microsoft Points and the best Xbox LIVE Gold Membership deals.

If you want to play against friends online, though, or take advantage of the range of custom designed multimedia apps – from BBC iPlayer and 4OD to Netflix and LOVEFiLM – you're going to need to pay for it.

Xbox LIVE Gold Membership can be bought in packages of one, three and twelve month subscriptions, with the price ranges as follows:

• 1 month: £5 to £8
• 3 months: £10 to £14
• 12 months: £33 to 40

As a general rule, if you can find a 12 month subscription card for under £30, buy it immediately. Membership cards activate the day you redeem the code, not the date of purchase, so hoarding is encouraged. When you spot a good deal on the subscription cards, buy a few for future use.

Ebay is one of the most popular places to find cheaper deals on Xbox Live gold membership cards. However, be wary of vendors who issue email codes rather than the cards themselves because you don't have any guarantee from Paypal on digital purchases. Always check the testimonials and their track record first. In addition, there can sometimes be good offers for Xbox Live subscriptions on the Xbox Live dashboard (which changes every 2 weeks) - so keep a close eye on it.

Microsoft Points

In order to buy anything on Xbox LIVE, you'll need to stock up on Microsoft Points. In the UK, these can be bought in bundles of 800, 1200, 2100 and 4200.

Microsoft Points can be confusing due to having to work out the exchange rate, but a basic rule to remember is the following:

80 Microsoft Points = $1 = 69p

2100 and 4200 Points cards tend to retail for around £17 and £34 respectively. Again, as a general rule, if you find deals for under £15 or £30 respectively, you'd do well to stock up.

Every Wednesday, new games are released on Xbox Live, usually at a cost of 800 to 1200 Microsoft Points, with the Xbox LIVE Indie Games service offering titles from as low as 80 Microsoft Points.

Xbox 360 Accessories

There aren't many absolute essentials for the Xbox 360 in terms of accessories, but there are some that you should take into consideration.

Xbox 360 Controller:

Wired (via USB) or wireless, you'll need extra Xbox controllers if you're planning on local multiplayer. Check how many controllers come with your Xbox 360 bundle deal and work out how many you’re going to need.

Play and Charge Kits:

This is a rechargeable battery pack for your Xbox 360 Controller that charges via USB as you play. An initial outlay for this will help save money in the long term, as you won’t have to buy batteries - simply use rechargeables.

HDMI cable:

This is essential if you want to play games in full HD as the standard console does not come with one in the box.

Headset:

You'll need to invest in a headset if you want to make the most of online gaming. The standard Xbox 360 set is rather flimsy, so upgrading to a superior model such as those made by Turtle Beach, might be advisable.

Remote Control:

If you use your Xbox 360 as your primary DVD player, then a remote control is an absolute must. It’s far more convenient than switching controllers on and off every time you want to pause a film.

Backwards Compatibility of Xbox Games

If you’re upgrading to a new Xbox 360 from the original Xbox console, you might want to consider backwards compatibility. This is the ability to play your original games on your new Xbox 360 console.

Original Xbox owners will be pleased to know that the Xbox 360 does offer backwards compatibility on a range of titles, allowing you to play more than 400 original Xbox games on your new console, although these games may run with varying degrees of success. For some games, graphics are improved over their performance original console.

However, there’s no online support now that Xbox LIVE for the original machine has been discontinued, so you'll probably need to invest in a few new titles.

Cheap Xbox 360 Games

The Xbox 360 tends to be the console of choice when it comes to the blockbuster shooters. The ease of development on its systems has made it the lead console for the majority of multiplatform titles in the past few years. Halo: Reach and Forza 4 lead the way in terms of exclusives. Other platform exclusives of interest include Mass Effect, Lost Odyssey, Gears of War and, of course, the entire range of Kinect Games.

Regular game prices start at £35 to £40, but most games will fall significantly in price over the first three months of their life. Call of Duty titles are an exception - they tend to hold their value.

Read more about Xbox 360.

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