Xbox Series X and S: Buy Before Price Increase

Microsoft has recently announced a significant price increase for Xbox consoles, controllers, and upcoming games. The new recommended retail prices for hardware are effective immediately, while the price for new first-party games will rise to $79.99 starting this holiday season. If you're considering purchasing an Xbox Series X|S or a new controller, now is the time to act, as the new prices are already reflected on Xbox's official store. However, savvy shoppers can still find the old prices at select retailers—for the time being.

Xbox Series X

Xbox Series X - 1TB

Xbox Series X - $499 (Going Up to $599 Soon)

• Get it at Amazon
• Get it at GameStop
• Get it at Walmart (third-party seller)

Xbox Series X 1TB Digital Edition - $449 (Going Up to $549 Soon)

• Get it at Amazon
• Get it at GameStop
• Get it at Target
• Get it at Walmart (third-party seller)

The Xbox Series X stands as the flagship Xbox model, boasting the power to run games at stunning 4K resolution. As an avid gamer, I can confidently say that this beast of a console outshines even my PS5. If you're like me and enjoy the tangible satisfaction of physical game copies, the standard model is your best bet. However, if you're ready to embrace a fully digital library, the digital edition offers a $50 saving.

Xbox Series S

Xbox Series S - 512GB

Xbox Series S 512GB - $299 (Going Up to $379 Soon)

• Get it at Amazon
• Get it at GameStop
• Get it at Target
• Get it at Walmart

Xbox Series S 1TB - $349 (Going Up to $429 Soon)

• Get it at Amazon
• Get it at GameStop
• Get it at Target
• Get it at Walmart

For gamers open to a fully digital future, the Xbox Series S is an excellent choice. However, be aware of its trade-off in raw processing power, designed to handle games at 1440p resolution instead of 4K. If this fits your gaming needs, the Series S is a fantastic option. It's available in both 512GB and 1TB variants. Given the increasing size of modern games, I highly recommend opting for the 1TB model to avoid the high costs of additional storage.

Xbox Wireless Controllers

Out August 13: Xbox Wireless Controller – Sky Cipher Special Edition

Xbox Wireless Controller – Sky Cipher Special Edition - $60.96 (Save 24% from $79.99) at Amazon

In addition to consoles, some Xbox controllers are also seeing a price increase. However, the pricing isn't uniform across all models, and some controllers will remain unchanged. The fluid nature of controller pricing means these hikes might be less noticeable than those for consoles. Here's a breakdown of the upcoming price changes for Xbox controllers:

• Xbox Wireless Controller (Core) - $64.99
• Xbox Wireless Controller (Color) - $69.99
• Xbox Wireless Controller - Special Edition - $79.99
• Xbox Wireless Controller - Limited Edition - $89.99 (up from $79.99)
• Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Core) - $149.99 (up from $139.99)
• Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Full) - $199.99 (up from $179.99)