LEIPZIG, Germany (Reuters)—Microsoft's new Xbox 360 game console will retail for $299 in the United States and will be out "in plenty of time for the Christmas market," European home and entertainment head Chris Lewis said.

Microsoft, which is racing rivals Sony and Nintendo Co. Ltd to get its new console to market, said on Wednesday the Xbox 360 would sell for 299 euros in Europe and 209 pounds in Britain.

Including accessories, the prices would be $399, 399 euros and 279.99 pounds, Lewis told journalists at Europe's biggest computer games fair in Leipzig, Germany.

Microsoft has yet to give an exact date for the launch.

The company added that it would reveal pricing for the Japanese market at the Tokyo games fair next month.

Copyright © 2005 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in PC Magazine.