By Or have they become too costly?
- by Ben Kerry
Earlier this week, Microsoft revealed that — amidst growing economic uncertainty — it is increasing the prices of its Xbox consoles, accessories, and games. In an extraordinary shift compared to previous console generations, Xbox’s premier console is set to rise by $100 five years after its initial debut – prompting us to consider how this price level might have impacted Microsoft’s launch strategy back in 2020.
Xbox Series X now retails for $599.99 in the US – yes, that infamous, meme-infested $599 price point. Given the backdrop of surging costs virtually everywhere, this price isn’t that surprising – yet we’ve come to expect that launching a console above $500 could spell trouble. With Microsoft’s unimpressive next-gen game lineup five years ago, we believe asking for $600 at launch would have been quite a challenge.
Nonetheless, we’ve had Xbox Series S as a more affordable option this generation — although that console’s price has now seen an increase as well. It now stands at $379.99 — elevated from the original $299.99 launch price — reflecting an even larger percentage hike than Xbox Series X. Do you think these updated prices would influence your decision on which console to purchase? Would you have opted for a wait-and-see approach, holding out for a price reduction? It’s a compelling question!
Xbox game prices are also rising, particularly at the upper end, where $80 games are set to become a norm. As you might have noticed via Pure Xbox, we’ve already explored this issue; concluding that Xbox Game Pass truly is the ultimate choice for Xbox enthusiasts today. Microsoft’s subscription service could make pricier consoles more palatable, but we are relieved to have acquired our systems before the price hike.
So, if you were considering purchasing an Xbox Series X|S console now, would you still think about it at these elevated prices? Had they been this high at launch, would you have hesitated to invest in a next-gen Xbox?
Cast your vote in the poll above and share your thoughts on this issue in the comments!
Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, with a passion for action, racing, and classic shooting games on any Xbox he can find. Outside of gripping an Xbox controller as if his life depended on it, Ben enjoys listening to music that’s quite old for his age, watching football on TV, and likely dining somewhere.