Microsoft has announced a price increase for Xbox consoles, controllers, and eventually games. The new recommended retail prices for hardware are effective immediately, while the $79.99 price tag for new first-party games will be implemented during the upcoming holiday season. If you've been considering purchasing a new Xbox Series X|S or a controller, now is the time to act. The updated, higher prices are already reflected on Xbox's official store, but you might still find the original prices at some retailers, at least for the time being.
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 stands as the flagship model, boasting the power to run games at 4K resolution. As a proud owner, I find it surpasses my PS5 in several ways. I appreciate the ability to purchase 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 gamers who are ready to embrace an all-digital future, the Xbox Series S is a compelling choice. However, it does come with less raw power, designed to run games at 1440p resolution rather than 4K. If that suits your needs, this console is an excellent option. It's available in 512GB or 1TB models. Given the large file sizes of modern games and the cost of additional storage, I would recommend opting for the 1TB version.
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 has been more dynamic compared to the consoles, so the price hikes may be less noticeable. Here are 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)
