Within the quick aftermath of Microsoft’s announcement that it was raising prices of the Xbox Sequence X and S for the third time this technology, a tiny pattern broke out on our expertise information feed. A smattering of tales appeared encouraging readers to expire and purchase an Xbox console earlier than the value hike goes into impact on August 1. Mix this deadline with the attract of energetic Prime Day offers on Xbox consoles, and the message from these articles is obvious: The perfect and most fiscally accountable time to purchase an Xbox is correct now, so go do it.
Enable me to play satan’s advocate.
Whereas it typically is smart to plan purchases round recognized worth hikes, it is a dumb time to purchase an Xbox. Sure, even with reductions providing an Xbox Sequence S for $350 and an Xbox Sequence X for $573 — hell, particularly at these costs. In 2020, the Xbox Sequence S launched at $300 and the Xbox Sequence X was $500. Over the previous couple of years, I personally picked up a Sequence X for lower than $400 and a Sequence S for $250. These consoles at the moment are of their sixth yr, and usually round this time within the technology, {hardware} costs can be dropping and we might be getting cool colorways and bundles. At present’s discounted Xbox costs are obscene for a console getting into its sixth yr.
It is price noting that at present’s market is uniquely unmoored, fueled by a reminiscence and storage scarcity that is driving up {hardware} costs throughout the tech trade. Nevertheless, Microsoft is a core a part of the issue right here. The corporate is exacerbating the RAM scarcity with massive investments in AI information facilities, and its feigned ignorance round spiking Xbox console costs is laughable.
Company chicanery apart, it is merely not a good time to purchase into the Xbox ecosystem. You possibly can say there’s by no means been a worse time, actually. Microsoft is in disarray following years of layoffs and studio closures, falling console profits, and executive-level changes to the Xbox enterprise in 2026. Simply this month, news broke that Double Nice, Ninja Concept and Compulsion Video games are in imminent hazard of being shut down, whereas new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and Chief Content material Officer Matt Booty set the stage for more layoffs in July.
On the software program aspect of issues, Xbox would not have a ton of unique video games, as its first-party titles are broadly out there on PC. Its latest hits like Avowed, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Keeper are all out there on Steam, and Xbox is legally obligated to distribute its largest first-party franchises (i.e., Name of Obligation) throughout platforms. That is to not point out the push to get its video games on PlayStation and Change, regardless of how short-lived which will find yourself being. One in every of Microsoft’s loudest advertising and marketing factors has been the truth that its video games will work on subsequent consoles and ultimately come to PC, and even when they’re not saying it out loud any more, the corporate is a frontrunner in platform-agnostic cloud play. When all the pieces is an Xbox and Xbox video games can be found anyplace, you do not actually need an Xbox in any respect.
There’s zero purpose to hurry out proper now and purchase a six-year-old gaming console for greater than its launch worth, simply because it may grow to be much more costly quickly. If you have not wanted an Xbox prior to now, chances are high, you continue to do not want one. This is perhaps wealthy coming from a client tech weblog, however there isn’t any real-world achievement for gathering each piece of up to date gaming {hardware} — the closest we get is clout, however the returns on social media likes and feedback are hole and diminishing. In contrast to Xbox costs, that are solely rising. The precise good transfer is to attend till the subsequent technology hits — which is apparently very soon — and both decide that up or seize a Sequence console that can then be priced to clear.
That is nothing in opposition to the media retailers that’ve run tales encouraging folks to make the most of Prime Day Xbox console costs. Honestly, there’s a very small marketplace for this recommendation and it is tremendous to indicate these six folks the place the very best offers are in the intervening time. However as general-audience recommendation, it sucks.
Apart from, aren’t you saving up for a Steam Machine proper now?
