Microsoft May Spend Up To $500 Million To Promote Kinect

According to the New York Post, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) may spend up to $500 million to promote the Kinect controller for the Xbox 360. The money will be spent on ads and sponsorships. The $500 million budget is the same amount spent to promote the original Xbox console itself back in July 2000.

Microsoft started preparing a campaign about 18 months ago. Microsoft even hired popular Hollywood producer Steven Spielberg for the promotional campaign.

Microsoft is working with Burger King, Pepsi, and Kellogg’s on this campaign. About 400 million cans of Pepsi and Diet Pepsi will promote Kinect somehow. There will also be about 60 million Kellogg’s cereal and snack boxes that promote the Kinect.

Around 7,000 retailers will stay open past 12AM when the Kinect goes on sale on November 4. Kinect uses a sensor, camera, and microphone to detect player movements.

[NY Post]

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