Alright, that does it; we're now at the stage where a "Lego" OG Xbox you can't play games on costs what I'd pay for a real console right now. Yes, somewhere under $400 is what I think is reasonable even for the new 25th anniversary Series X, given that it launched six years ago, but apparently if you want the latest machine that can play games (wild, I know), it might cost near a grand.
I guess I see the humor in Mattel showcasing its Brick Shop OG Xbox Lego alternative in the same week as devastating 25th Anniversary Series X25 price leaks. There's only so long you can chuckle at potentially paying $899 for what is really just a translucent Series X with the same core performance and features. What's that? You scraped together 400 bucks for a current-gen system? Oh, that's enough for a retro console model since that costs $329.99.
There's a joke to be made about the Mattel Brick Shop Xbox model leaving you with $70 spare for a game, but I don't think I'm even in the mood. I have friends who deliberately held off from buying a Series X or a PS5 back in 2020, and it now feels like they're financially and functionally barred from a console update this generation. By the latter, I mean that they've got less reason to opt for a PlayStation since Sony is also abandoning physical games.
I can't help but feel like both Mattel and Microsoft are both ramping up MSRPs with no real basis. The toy maker previously released an Xbox 360 3:4 scale building block model with a $150 MSRP, and while it's slightly smaller, it's got the same lights, sounds, and detailing as the new kit. I should also point out that while that set was technically MEGA (previously MEGA BLOKS) branded, the company says it's a different product, but it absolutely feels like a brand pivot for the sake of premium pricing.
On the Microsoft side of things, the console maker is contending with the same component pricing issues as everyone else. Still, the RAMageddon ramifications aren't an excuse to release a new colorway of your console that's $400 more than the launch version. Yes, the OG Xbox vibes make for a nice 25th anniversary, but that's somewhat spoiled by the fact that the majority of players can't afford to come to the party.
The skinny here is that it should be the Series X25 that costs $329.99, and the Lego kit alternative OG Xbox should at least be the same price as its 360 predecessor. The $899.99 price tag would give me the ick slightly less if it featured souped-up performance like the PS5 Pro, but even that would spark indigestion symptoms.
If you need me, I'll be playing PS2 games in the attic where the pretend consoles for over $300 and near $1,000 machines can't hurt me.
Take a look at the best retro handhelds if you need a gaming machine that's remotely affordable.
