Those wanting to get an Xbox Series X|S console will now have to pony up a bit more money after yet another price hike. Microsoft recently raised global prices of its Xbox Series X|S consoles back in May by ~$80-$129 and has announced it will be raising them again as of October 3. This time, however, the cost increases will only occur in the U.S.
“Beginning on October 3, we will update the recommended retailer pricing for Series S and Series X consoles in the United States due to changes in the macroeconomic environment.
We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration. Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and providing value for Xbox players.”
-Xbox
Once again, the model getting the largest price increase is the Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black. Last time around, its pricetag went from $599.99 to $729.99. Those still wanting one will now have to pay $60 more on top of the previous $129 increase for a total of $799.99, basically a $200 increase in less than six months. The good news is that if you can still afford more money on this console experience, controllers and headsets can still be had at the same price since the last increase, at least for now.
U.S. Prices as of May
- Xbox Series S 512 $379.99
- Xbox Series S 1TB $429.99
- Xbox Series X Digital $549.99
- Xbox Series X $599.99
- Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition $729.99
U.S. Prices as of October 3
- Xbox Series S 512 $399.99
- Xbox Series S 1TB $449.99
- Xbox Series X Digital $599.99
- Xbox Series X $649.99
- Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition $799.99
As scary as these prices are, they do raise questions about what Microsoft will plan for its next round of consoles. It’s expected that both it and Sony, which by the way is currently selling its PS5 Pro 2 TB model at $749.99, will launch their next generation of consoles within the next couple of years, or sooner, but if a current flagship Xbox is going for essentially $800, one can only wonder what its successor will go for. Meanwhile, Microsoft is continuing to expand its Xbox gaming platform across PCs and gaming handhelds via its app and collaboration with ASUS.
Discussion (5 replies)
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And here I thought the cost to manufacture would go down. Perhaps this ks what happens when you dont own your own manufacturing for any component? You dont reap tne benefits of owning the constituent pieces and can never have paid for manufacturing hardware and processes allowing you to drive prices down.
This is also what happens when a massive AI bubble is driving up prices for wafers, on top of die shrinks no longer reducing cost per transistor. Things aren't going to get better until the AI bubble bursts, and even then they won't get much better.
And to be honest... I think we're 10 years away from that... shorter if we don't get Universal Minimum Income guaranteed for the people displaced by the AI services bots. Even the risk of hackers making it so people with allergies GET the allergen's in their products.... the benefits to eliminating human workers, no medical insurance needed, no life insurance, no benefits at all... means the cost to generate the income remains the same. The issue will be with people simply not having money to use the services any longer.
Hell we're quickly approaching a point where you order on an app, a automated line makes your order, a automated driving service, docks, charges, accepts order, then un docks and brings it to your home. You go to the curb and retrieve your order. All with near perfect accuracy.
Phone trees? Gone... specialized Ai will simply interface with the caller and handle the issue from start to finish. Even dispatching RMA's because it's cheaper to do that than have a team of RMA agents. Just make a replacement and ship it out. Toss/return the old one they won't really care.
Call 911, AI will accept the call, engage emergency response, bridge the call and relay needed information with multiple parties at the same time. Maybe a human to monitor ten lines at a time for when/if the AI runs into an issue it can't safely handle.
I DO NOT LIKE THIS future that's coming right now... but it will be convenient... for those that still have jobs.
Agree. Will be interesting when those with all the cash realize that a capitalist society runs like a pump - you need the cash to be moving around the economy for the economic engine to run. The goal for an healthy capitalist economy isn’t necessarily the sum in your account, but the flow in and out.
The more money moving around, the faster than engine turns and better the economy is for pretty well everyone - in my opinion. It’s like cutting off the circulation to the lower half of your body
You take away the means for a lot of people to contribute to that flow and … things are gonna happen. That used to be earning income from employment… and there should be some reward for merit - but maybe that does need to be reconsidered