Despite launching over 14 months ago, the Xbox Series X is still incredibly difficult to locate. That’s unheard of not only in the gaming industry, but in the entire world of consumer electronics as well – high-profile products like games consoles or smartphones are usually short-supplied within a few weeks of launch, but supply problems are usually resolved within a few months. This time it’s different.
COVID-19 caused production delays, resulting in a global chip shortage affecting everything from smartphones and smartwatches to consoles and cars. You’ve got a perfect storm for console shortages when millions of people are forced into lockdowns or forced to isolate themselves.
There will be shortages for some time to come, unfortunately. Microsoft’s Phil Spencer said at the end of last year that the issues would persist for months. We’re sorry to hear that. Xbox stock drops are becoming more frequent if not regular, which is a good thing. Also, the lower-specced (and cheaper) Xbox Series S is a lot easier to find, so there’s still hope.
Xbox Series X: How to Get Where to Buy?
Xbox Series X Price
Microsoft finally priced the Xbox Series X at £449 ($499, €499, AU$749) after much delay. The next-generation console went on sale on Tuesday, November 10.
Is it more than you can afford? Xbox All Access subscriptions are now available in 12 countries, including the UK (via GAME and Smyths Toys), the United States (Best Buy, GameStop, and Walmart), and Australia (via Telstra).
Using this service, you can buy an Xbox Series X without paying anything upfront, just like a mobile phone contract. As a result, you pay £28.99 per month ($34.99, AU$46) over 24 months. You will get a shiny new Series X console, access to over 100 games on Xbox Games Pass as well as multiplayer gaming via Xbox Live Gold. The Xbox Series S is also available for pre-order in digital format.
As a result, the rumors that the Xbox Series X would cost $499 were true. You might be wondering how that compares to past Xbox consoles. Here’s a look back at past Xbox pricing strategies.
Back in 2001, the original Xbox ushered in the Xbox line. When it launched, it cost £350 or $350. Several years later, Microsoft released the Xbox 360, which initially cost £210/$300.
Afterward, the Xbox One range was released. (without the Kinect add-on) Microsoft’s Xbox One was originally launched in 2013 for £329/$400. Following this was the Xbox One S, which sold for £249/$300 in 2016, and the Xbox One X, which sold for £450/$500 in 2017.
When you consider that the Xbox Series X costs the same as the original Xbox One (with Kinect), it looks like a pretty good deal. A new console, the Xbox Series X, is intended to be the most powerful ever.
Xbox Series S Price: Cheaper Digital Edition
It was rumored for months that Microsoft was preparing a cheaper Xbox to launch alongside the Series X. Sure enough, the Xbox Series S is the digital-only version of its next-generation console.
It costs £249.99 (€299, $299, AU$499). This is just over half the price of the full-fat Xbox Series X and could be an enticing offer for UK gamers.
There is also the option for 12 countries, including the US, UK, and Australia, to pay in installments for the Series S. The Xbox All Access service includes the Series S console plus Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Live Gold for £20.99 ($24.99, AU$33) per month over 24 months.
One of the main differences between the Xbox Series S and Series X is that the latter does not have a disc drive. Another significant difference is that both consoles support frame rates of up to 120fps, but the Xbox Series X offers native 4K gaming, whereas the Xbox Series S is geared more towards 1440p. In order to take full advantage of your 4K TV, the Series X is the obvious choice, but those with gaming monitors might find the Series S just as satisfactory.
Although not as powerful as the Series S. While both consoles have Zen 2-based CPUs, the Xbox Series X runs at 3.8Hz, while the Series S runs at 3.4Hz. With the Xbox Series X, you get 16GB of GDDR6 memory running at 224Gbps, compared to 10GB on the Xbox Series S.
This is not to say that the Series S is underpowered. The company claims it has four times the processing power of an Xbox One console. In our Xbox Series S review, we concluded that the Series S offers a lot of value for your money.
The Series S comes with a 512GB SSD, which is half that of the Series X, which has a 1TB SSD. Both consoles feature 1TB expansion cards and HDMI 2.1 connectors with variable refresh rates.
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, which is basically a PS5 without a disc drive, is going up against Xbox Series S. Therefore, PlayStation 5 Digital Edition has greater processing power than the Xbox Series S.
PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series X
Sony confirmed the PS5 Digital and PS5 prices at £360 ($400, AU$599) and £450 ($500, AU$750) respectively after many leaks and speculations. It was a pleasant surprise to those who expected the PS5 to be much more expensive than the Xbox Series X.
Although the full-fat PS5 and Xbox Series X are priced the same, the all-digital Series S undercuts the PS5 Digital Edition by a fair margin of £90 ($100, AU$100).
The Xbox Series S, however, is less powerful than the Series X, while the PS5 Digital Edition is identical to the standard PS5 except for the lack of a disc drive.
Xbox Series X Price: Game Bundles
New consoles are usually paired with some of the biggest titles. Included in this year’s lineup are FIFA 21, Fortnite, Rainbow Six Siege, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
Microsoft has partnered with EA to bring Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which grants you access to 100+ games stored in the cloud, over 60 of EA’s biggest games. Halo Infinite was probably the most-wanted launch title, and the most popular bundle, but the studio in charge of the game opted not to release it.
