Xbox Series X and S: Buy Before Price Increase

Microsoft has recently announced an increase in the prices of Xbox consoles, controllers, and upcoming games. The new recommended retail prices for hardware are effective immediately, whereas the new $79.99 price for first-party games will be implemented during the holiday season. If you're considering purchasing an Xbox Series X|S or a new controller, now is the time to act, as the new, higher prices are already in effect on the official Xbox store. However, you might still find the older, lower prices at certain retailers for the time being.

Xbox Series X

Xbox Series X - 1TB

Current Price: $499.99 at Amazon (Save 17% from $599.99)

New Price: $599

Where to Buy:

• Amazon
• GameStop
• Walmart (third-party seller)

Xbox Series X 1TB Digital Edition

Current Price: $449

New Price: $549

Where to Buy:

• Amazon
• GameStop
• Target
• Walmart (third-party seller)

The Xbox Series X stands out as the flagship model, boasting the power to run games at 4K resolution. As a proud owner, I can say it surpasses my PS5 in many ways. For those who prefer physical copies of games, the standard model is ideal. However, if you're comfortable with a digital-only library, the digital edition offers a $50 saving.

Xbox Series S

Xbox Series S - 512GB

Current Price: $273.99 at Amazon (Save 28% from $379.99)

New Price: $379

Where to Buy:

• Amazon
• GameStop
• Target
• Walmart

Xbox Series S - 1TB

Current Price: $349

New Price: $429

Where to Buy:

• Amazon
• GameStop
• Target
• Walmart

The Xbox Series S is perfect for those embracing a fully digital gaming experience. However, it's worth noting its lower power capacity, designed to run games at 1440p resolution rather than 4K. Both the 512GB and 1TB models are excellent choices, though I recommend the 1TB version due to the increasing size of modern games and the cost of additional storage.

Xbox Wireless Controllers

Out August 13 - Xbox Wireless Controller – Sky Cipher Special Edition

Current Price: $60.96 at Amazon (Save 24% from $79.99)

New Prices for 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)

While not all Xbox controllers are seeing a price increase, those that are have varying adjustments. The pricing on controllers tends to be more flexible than on consoles, so the impact of the price hike might be less noticeable.