Microsoft has recently announced a price increase for Xbox consoles, controllers, and soon, their first-party games. The new pricing for hardware is effective immediately, while the price for new first-party games will rise to $79.99 starting this holiday season. If you've been considering purchasing a new Xbox Series X|S or a controller, now is the time to act, as the price hikes are already reflected on Xbox’s official store. However, some retailers still offer the previous prices, so you might want to check those out before they're gone.
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 stands as the flagship model, boasting the power to run games at stunning 4K resolution. As an avid gamer, I find its performance even more impressive than my PS5. I'm particularly fond of its ability to use physical games, which is why I recommend the standard model. However, if you're okay with an all-digital library, the digital edition offers a $50 savings.
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
The Xbox Series S is a fantastic choice for those ready to go fully digital. While it's less powerful than the Series X, targeting 1440p resolution instead of 4K, it's still a solid option. It's available in both 512GB and 1TB models. Given the large file sizes of modern games and the high cost of additional Xbox storage, I'd recommend opting for the 1TB version.
Some Xbox controllers are also facing price increases. Not all controllers will see the same hike, and some will remain unchanged. Controller pricing has been more variable than console pricing, so the impact might not be as noticeable. Here are the updated prices for Xbox controllers: