That Xbox price increase we were warned about back in June? It's coming up this weekend.
From August 1 (Saturday), you'll be paying a whopping $799.99 for a 1TB Xbox Series X console, with the cheapest 512GB Series S now coming in at $499. That's a $100 price increase at the bottom end of the market, and a $150 jump at the top.
It goes without saying, anyone looking to pick up an Xbox any time soon should do so before those rates increase, but please don't rush out and buy a brand new console. If you're set on buying an Xbox this year, I'd implore you to check out certified refurbished options from Microsoft instead.
That's because even the current rates are inflated compared to launch, this isn't Xbox's first time at the rodeo. The 512GB Xbox Series S still costs $399.99 brand new, whereas it hit the shelves for just $299.99 back in 2020. Microsoft's refurbished rates won't get get you back down to the glory days, but they're a damn sight better than $500.
Unfortunately, it looks like Microsoft only has the cheaper Series S in its warehouses at the moment, and Best Buy's Geek Squad seems to have run out of Series X devices to ship as well. That means anyone hunting down a new full-fat console before Xbox price hikes come into effect are stuck with brand new devices, and their already lofty rates.
I'd wait this one out. Stock of certified refurbished Xbox Series X consoles does periodically return to Microsoft's shelves and even if this weekend's price increases do stick with those older devices you'll still be paying a little less.
If you're dead set on picking up a fully fledged Series X before the weekend, I'd stick with Microsoft. You'll find the OG disc console for its latest $649.99 price point, whereas Best Buy and Amazon seem to have gone off the deep end with their only stock priced at $800 and higher.
How much are Xbox prices increasing by?
Most Xbox consoles are seeing prices increase by $150 after August 1, with the exception being the 512GB Series S.
- Xbox Series X (1TB, disc) | $799.99 (was $649.99)
- Xbox Series X (1TB, digital) | $749.99 (was $599.99)
- Xbox Series S (1TB) | $599 (was $449)
- Xbox Series S (512GB) | $499 (was $399)
At its new $799.99 MSRP, the disc Xbox Series X is now the most expensive non-Pro console on the market, with the PS5 Slim at $649.99 after Sony's own price increases. Sure, it's not as bad as the $899.99 PS5 Pro, but considering this is a launch device that started life at $499.99 it's pretty egregious.
Current RAM shortages are pushing prices up across the entire industry, from individual components to prebuilt gaming PCs and gaming laptops, all the way through to the Nintendo Switch 2. It may seem like consoles are disproportionately more expensive, but everything is seeing this kind of inflation, it's just that not everybody has to announce their increases every time they're made.
- See all Xbox accessories at Best Buy
If you do decide to jump in before prices increase again, check out the best Xbox Series X controllers and best Xbox Series X headsets.
