Microsoft has recently announced a price increase for Xbox consoles, controllers, and eventually games. The new recommended retail prices for hardware are effective immediately, while the price for new first-party games will rise to $79.99 starting this holiday season. If you're considering purchasing a new Xbox Series X|S or a controller, now might be the perfect time to act. The updated prices are already reflected on Xbox's official store, but you can still find the old prices at some retailers, at least temporarily.
Xbox Series X
Xbox Series X - 1TB
Xbox Series X - $499 (Going Up to $599 Soon)
Get it at Amazon, GameStop, Walmart (third-party seller)
Xbox Series X 1TB Digital Edition - $449 (Going Up to $549 Soon)
Get it at Amazon, GameStop, Target, Walmart (third-party seller)
The Xbox Series X is the flagship model, boasting the power to run games at 4K resolution. As someone who owns both, I must say I prefer my Xbox Series X over the PS5. One of the reasons is the ability to buy and play physical games, which is why I recommend the standard model. However, if you're comfortable with a fully digital library, the Digital Edition offers a $50 saving.
Xbox Series S
Xbox Series S - 512GB
Xbox Series S 512GB - $299 (Going Up to $379 Soon)
Get it at Amazon, GameStop, Target, Walmart
Xbox Series S 1TB - $349 (Going Up to $429 Soon)
Get it at Amazon, GameStop, Target, Walmart
For those who are fine with a fully digital gaming experience, the Xbox Series S is a great option. However, it's worth noting that it runs games at 1440p resolution rather than 4K, which is a significant difference in terms of power. If this resolution suits your needs, the Series S is a fantastic choice. It's available in 512GB and 1TB models. Given the increasing size of modern games, I'd recommend opting for the 1TB version to avoid running out of storage space quickly.
Xbox Wireless Controllers
Out August 13 - Xbox Wireless Controller – Sky Cipher Special Edition
Some Xbox controllers are also seeing a price increase, though not all models are affected equally. The pricing on controllers tends to be more dynamic than on consoles, so the impact might be less noticeable. Here's a breakdown of the upcoming price changes for Xbox controllers:
- Xbox Wireless Controller (Core) - $64.99
- Xbox Wireless Controller (Color) - $69.99
- Xbox Wireless Controller - Special Edition - $79.99
- Xbox Wireless Controller - Limited Edition - $89.99 (up from $79.99)
- Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Core) - $149.99 (up from $139.99)
- Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Full) - $199.99 (up from $179.99)
