As the first console to drop below the $200 price point, the Xbox 360 will have the privilege this holiday season of being the cheapest, and perhaps, most matured game consoles. The hardware has been refined over the years, there's a vast software library of varied titles, and the online service is second to none. Alas, it seems that the deal is as sweet as it's going to get for at least the foreseeable future, as Microsoft has admitted that the next round of price cuts is a long way off.

Microsoft UK head Stephen McGill sounded off on the advent of further price drops to Videogamer. "I'm not dropping the price for many many years in the future I would suspect," said McGill. "We've obviously just reduced the price and that's because we can pass the costs reductions we have straight on to consumers."

Given that Sony cannot afford to lower the price of the PS3 anymore at the moment and Nintendo seems content with its unending stream of money, Microsoft looks to stand alone at the $200 price point, at least until sometime next year. And, judging by the company's reaction, even then it will likely drop down just to win the war for the best price tag. As far as the cheapest console this generation goes, it looks like Microsoft has the position firmly locked down.