Microsoft has announced that Xbox's price is going up, but there is a small window that is now allowing users to get the chance to nab a Series S or Series X console at its current pricing.
Microsoft, Xbox Raises Prices on Hardware Console
The announcement has triggered a wave of articles urging shoppers to buy now before prices go up, especially with Prime Day discounts currently in play. Despite that pressure, several outlets like Engadget are pushing back, arguing that buying an Xbox right now is actually one of the worst moves a shopper could make.
The new prices take effect August 1, and current discounts have temporarily dropped the "Xbox Series S" to $350 and the "Xbox Series X" to $573.
Those numbers might look appealing on the surface, but they remain well above what both consoles originally launched at back in 2020, when the Series S debuted at $300 and the Series X at $500.
That gap becomes even more apparent when looking at prices from recent years rather than just the original launch window. Engadget reported that it had previously purchased a Series X for under $400 and a Series S for $250 at various points over the past two console generations, both of which sit well below even today's so-called discounted rates.
In other words, what is being marketed as a limited-time deal right now is actually a worse price than what shoppers were able to find for the very same hardware not too long ago.
Hardware usually gets cheaper the longer it sits on shelves, not more expensive, which makes the current trajectory of Xbox pricing stand out as unusual even by industry standards.
Here's Why You Shouldn't Buy an Xbox Now
Both consoles are now entering their sixth year on the market, a point in a typical console cycle where prices usually drop, and special bundles start rolling out instead of climbing higher.
Microsoft has also faced a rough stretch behind the scenes, marked by repeated layoffs, studio closures, and falling console revenue throughout 2026.
Reports indicate that Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Compulsion Games are currently at risk of shutting down, while leadership has hinted at further layoffs coming in July.
Xbox's exclusivity lineup has also grown thinner over time, since most of its first-party titles, including recent releases like "Avowed," "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle," and "Keeper," are already available on PC through Steam.
Microsoft is also legally required to keep major franchises like "Call of Duty" available across competing platforms following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Wait for the Next-Gen Xbox Instead
With most Xbox titles already playable on PC, Steam, and cloud streaming services, owning the actual console matters less than it once did, especially with a typical seven-year hardware cycle suggesting a new generation could be coming relatively soon.
Reports have already indicated that Microsoft plans to start providing game studios with next-generation hardware as early as 2027, reinforcing the idea that current consoles are nearing the end of their run.
Handheld gaming devices have also emerged as a stronger value proposition for many players, offering more flexibility without locking buyers into aging hardware nearing a generational cutoff.
Rather than spending hundreds on a six-year-old console at a price higher than its original launch cost. Waiting for the next generation or picking up a deeply discounted Series console once newer hardware actually arrives looks like the more sensible path for the public.
