xbox360_japan_sales_02 The east may not always get it first, but this time it did: Microsoft has officially cut the price of the Xbox 360 in Japan down to $182 for the Core package. The Premium (with 60GB hard drive) and Elite bundles have also gotten cuts - $277 and $369, respectively.

Interestingly, the Xbox 360 is now cheaper than the Wii in the region, which sells for 25,000 yen versus the Core package going for 19,800 yen.

Similar cuts are expected in the North American market come September 7.

Tags: Business, Hardware, japan, Microsoft, Xbox 360