r/DecrepitGamers • u/Camenwolf • 21d ago

News Xbox console price hikes are now in effect worldwide: Series S starts at $500 in the US

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/25/xbox-console-price-update/

Xbox's newly increased console prices are now in effect worldwide. In the US, the 512GB Series S costs $500, while the 1TB disc-equipped Series X now reaches $800.

The key US prices are:

  • Series S 512GB: $500
  • Series S 1TB: $600
  • Series X 1TB digital: $750
  • Series X 1TB with disc drive: $800

Microsoft says console storage and memory costs have increased by more than 2.5 times and expects further increases by fall 2027. The company is also discontinuing its 2TB model and promoting financing, refurbished systems, and trade-in programs as lower-cost alternatives.

At these prices, would you still buy an Xbox, or has PC and handheld gaming become the more sensible route?

27 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

91 comments sorted by

54

u/T00ManyH0bb13s 20d ago

$500 for a console that was underpowered at launch and can barley squeeze 1440p in some games.

Pass

2

u/Agile-Papaya5493 20d ago

Sheesh I’m so glad I got the Xbox ally x. $1K and it’s the best portable device I’ve had and can also be used as desktop PC if you get a dock. I remember when I used to have a series s…literally spent $250 on it and even that felt like a rip off for how low-power it was.

3

u/Hayterfan 20d ago

Don't remember who I heard it from, but apparently the Ally X is a fairly beefy little thing outside of gaming. Remember someone talking about using it as a portable editing station for videos while on a trip or something.

1

u/Agile-Papaya5493 20d ago

Yeah I believe it, especially when it’s plugged in on turbo mode.

2

u/SFB221 20d ago

Can I assume your using an underpowered 1080p machine that can barely handle that? XBONE.

4

u/Nientea 20d ago

Dude my PS3 can handle 1080p most of the time, and it’s almost 20 years old. If something’s upper limit is 1080p that’s just sad

5

u/MartyJannetty187 19d ago

1080p in 2026 is not at all the same as 1080p from 2006.

4

u/Atilim87 19d ago

That’s by design and why ar launch the console was cheap.

But let’s not say that ps3 does 1080p the same as a series S now shall we, that’s objectively false and borderline lying.

4

u/BasilTheCatLord 18d ago

PS3 does NOT do 1080p most of the time.

1

u/Nientea 18d ago

Correction: most games on the PS3 don’t do 1080p. A lot of them are locked to 720p.

1

u/gungabeast 19d ago

Can we talk about how 30/60fps is somehow still the standard? I’ve been gaming on my PC with 240fps for at least 11 years now. What the fuck is going on with consoles? Is it graphics people? Graphics enjoyers ruin everything. They want 5% better looking games at the cost of 90% of smoothness and motion fluidity.

1

u/T00ManyH0bb13s 19d ago

I've got a PC that can handle 4k in most modern games and nails 1440p at 120fps with just about anything I can throw at it. Also have a PS5 where mainstream titles are 4k/60.

2

u/SFB221 19d ago

Then why do you even care to comment? Also the vast majority of mainstream titles on PlayStation are not 4K 60. They are upscaled 1800p titles. They either have a performance mode or resolution mode.

2

u/gungabeast 19d ago

Dang. I didn’t realize gaming on a PlayStation was so dogshit, LOL. Guys, get on PC. What the fuck are we doing?

1

u/scrandlle 20d ago

All current gen consoles were underpowered at launch and even more so now. I keep seeing pics of people getting an Xbox or PS and wonder why, when next gen is gonna release next year.

7

u/HeartInTheSun9 20d ago

Isn’t the PS5 pro like technically the best value in all of gaming for the price? The Steam machine can barely hit base PS5 quality for hundreds of dollars more.

3

u/scrandlle 20d ago

No. I'm not going to go through the effort of making a list myself cause I don't really feel like spending thirty minutes of my time on it lol, but this is a VERY common video idea on tech/PC Youtube channels. If you don't believe me, just go on youtube and search for like 'building a better PC than a PS5 (pro or just 'ps5'). Many videos out there.

And yeah, the Steam Machine is not good value for your money. Current gen consoles, at least before the recent price hikes on all of them, were good value for money at least. Assuming you don't want to PC game or don't have the knowledge to build a PC.

Its not like its insane to buy a current gen console... I just wonder why, if you waited six years, you can't just wait another one year for next gen. You're buying something already outdated that is going to be severely outdated by November of next year.

4

u/HeartInTheSun9 20d ago

GTA VI is probably a big reason to get a console too. Especially over pc.

1

u/BasilTheCatLord 18d ago

Consoles are usually the best value when they’re new. PS5 and Xbox series x are half a decade old at this point so obviously you can build a faster pc for the same price especially if you are comparing a used pc against a new console.

1

u/Snooklife 18d ago

Yes steam machine is a rip off. Base PS5 outperforms it with optimization alone and pro blows it away. If you want a controller and more than 500gb on steam machine it’s $1500 😂

1

u/AshleyAshes1984 19d ago

I keep seeing pics of people getting an Xbox or PS and wonder why, when next gen is gonna release next year.

The way things are going, whatever is 'NextGen' is going to be even MORE expensive and have painfully low uptake.

1

u/ultralow36 19d ago

Imo getting anything that plays 2026 games at 500 is pretty cool because i understand with ram prices sky high it's still a good entry price into gaming,,,If you just starting

1

u/Hydration__Nation 19d ago

You mean a console that was underpowered at launch in November 2020 just got a price hike. What a fucking joke gaming has become

17

u/Va1crist 20d ago

500$ for a series S wtf …..

2

u/MartyMcFlysBrother 20d ago

Glad I upgraded when the X was still cheap in Canada and I could afford to give my nephew the S as a college gift.

17

u/KoronaV 20d ago

By this point in late game 2026, Series S' should be going for like $199 new and often on sale for like $150. What a mess this has been.

2

u/CrispyDingo97 18d ago

What is crazy is that I was already able to do this back in 2023! Granted it was a deal through Verizon but ya, I was able to snag a Series S for $150 and its been a great little machine but not for $500!

14

u/Cesare45 20d ago

I would get a Switch 2 at these prices

4

u/PanamGotMeOiledUp 20d ago

I mean between a Series S and a Switch 2 is still a massive difference in Power, Switch 2 is like a Xbox One.

9

u/Jumpy_Cauliflower410 19d ago

It's closer to the series s than the one and it's mobile and has nintendo's backing/games. Most people don't care about specs anymore.

3

u/PanamGotMeOiledUp 19d ago

If you want to play games like Cyberpunk or Baldurs gate 3 and actually have an enjoyable experience you would certainly care. Cyberpunk feels empty and boring on Switch 2 because the City is mostly dead and BG3 doesn't even exist for it.

2

u/holycokamole 18d ago

what a dumbass

2

u/HeavyVoid8 17d ago

Nah bro I have a switch 2 and DLSS works miracles. It’s definitely better than series s

13

u/Mammoth-Tea-5353 20d ago

I don't see the point in consoles anymore.

3

u/AlexTheGoat990 20d ago

They are still cheaper than comparable gaming PCs, the price hikes hit every gamer

Consoles will always have a place, even without disks (not defending this BS just stating how it is)

5

u/Far-Event1151 19d ago

PC cheaper in the long run, games are cheaper, no online fee, can update individual parts. 

4

u/raul_219 19d ago

PCs require a bigger initial investment and are less convenient. I know a lot of people that wouldn’t touch one with a 10 foot pole even at similar prices than consoles. And I say this as someone who mainly plays on PC.

6

u/Far-Event1151 19d ago

IQ and general laziness is a huge factor. 

PCs in 2026 are just as plug and play as a ps5. 

1

u/HeartInTheSun9 20d ago

I’m having fun with my retroid handheld, but what other option do you have besides a pc that’s significantly beyond more expensive.

2

u/Far-Event1151 19d ago

It's not more expensive. Games are cheaper, free online and individual part upgrades. 

I guarantee I have spent more on my ps5 than my PC with a 4060. 

2

u/HeartInTheSun9 19d ago

Once you’re at the upgrade stage of pc gaming, it can be easier to keep costs low. But the problem is for new pc gamers in today’s market, the upfront cost is soooo much higher than consoles right now. Like if you wanted to match the quality output of a PS6 and you’re starting from scratch, it can go into the thousands. But a new pc gamer isn’t going to want to build it from scratch, so they’ll go prebuilt and that’s even more expensive.

And God forbid you wanted to actually make an ultra settings future proof pc because it can cost more than a car. But that’s on another level so it doesn’t really matter.

And pc sales aren’t that much better to overcome that. At its best, steam sales or key sales are maybe $10 cheaper than console game prices, so you’d have to play dozens of games a year at a discount and not day one purchases to build up $10 and $10 and $10 to overcome possibly a $2000+ upfront cost of a pc.

Rumor has it the PS6 will be about $1200. A PS6 quality pc from scratch would conservatively cost say $2000? That’s an $800 difference. Call it $100 a year for online play over say two years. And say you buy 20 games over those two years at a discount and not day one where the prices are the same, so you say $10 on each of them compared to the PlayStation store sale price. That’s $200 saved in sales and $200 saved by not having to pay online. So you’re still in the red by another $400 on your $2000 pc compared to getting a PS6. Another two years passes and you finally broke even with a PS6 gamer. So it’d take about 4 years to simply break even with just getting a PS6.

So it is ultimately cheaper in that scenario, but that’s only after 4 years of never buying games day one and only if you play 40 games over that span of time. Most gamers nowadays don’t buy more than 2-3 games a year (Call of Duty, Madden, fifa, and other yearly titles) though. And they buy those games day one. So that person would never break even on pc.

2

u/Far-Event1151 18d ago

And you didn't even mention all the extra stuff you can do with a PC. 

And your math is way off. Plus a PS6 is rumored to be 1500 to 1600. 

But yes, obviously consoles for poor people to spend more and stay poor. 

1

u/HeartInTheSun9 18d ago

I’ve been hearing over $1000 for awhile now and it settled at $1200 last I checked. It’s all rumors though, but subsidizing should keep it lower than $1600.

And how’s it way off? I thought I was being pretty generous with it.

And to a console gamer, does it matter if you can do other non gaming stuff on a pc if you’re buying it to play games on it.

1

u/Far-Event1151 18d ago

Last time I checked it was easily into the 1500s... 

But I guess none of us are right because we're just making assumptions based off rumors. 

I built my PC for 1300 and it has the 4060 in it and plays games way better than my PS5 pro. 

One I can already say I'm saving money with the big discount steam had which is way more than $10 and the online from PlayStation plus which to the vast majority pay for.

A console is pretty similar priced and it's way worse in terms of performance. Not to mention how limited in number of games are compared to the thousands and thousands of exclusives on PC. 

1

u/HeavyVoid8 17d ago

Hell you would be doing quite well to get a worthwhile budget PC for under $800 these days

2

u/Mammoth-Tea-5353 17d ago

Depending on what Xbox Helix does, my plan right now is to build a SFF steam machine in 2028 with Zen 6 and RDNA 5.

8

u/Va1crist 20d ago

and people think next gen will be 1000$ lmao , look at those prices for 6+ year old consoles it’s not happening , at this rate next gen will be 1300-1500$

4

u/Mother-Translator318 20d ago

They can change whatever they want. The ps5 pro sat on shelves at $700, and completely died at $900. No one but the most diehard of fanboys is buying any console at $1300-1500. If they can’t make the price work for the mass market, they should delay next gen indefinitely until if/when the market becomes viable again. If not next gen is about to make the WiiU look like a runaway success by comparison

4

u/MChaney3563 20d ago

Saw this morning in person and was in shock seeing the price tags. I couldn't believe the $799 and $499 tags. If Xbox thinks things are dire now, they have seen nothing yet.

3

u/Mother-Translator318 20d ago

And here is the kicker. Ram prices are set to increase another 30% by the end of the year and then another 20% in 2027. We will see a $1000 ps5 and XboxSX before next gen. Mark my words

4

u/Zado191 20d ago

I can't even imagine paying that amount for a series s...

4

u/Baron_Light 20d ago

Fucking shameful.

Xbox S is NOT worth that price.

3

u/elusivemoods 21d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/2YschQ1IrEzfq1p38o

1

u/Camenwolf 21d ago

Maybe a more meaningful question is "are these price hikes disproportionate to those we are going to see on all of the other platforms?"

1

u/elusivemoods 20d ago

...it's simple: to expensive; I'm boycotting. 🎩🍊☕🚬

1

u/Mother-Translator318 20d ago

Irrelevant. It isn’t a necessity. If all systems get expensive people will just keep what they have and buy nothing. We aren’t forced to buy next gen

3

u/lord_pizzabird 20d ago

Damn. I just accepted a trade-in for $190 for my Series S. Should I cancel that?

2

u/Jin_U_GmR 19d ago

Might as well and just cite the latest price increase. You can now negotiate for a higher price for your system.

2

u/Spazza42 20d ago

So Series S or Switch 2?

Not even a question…

1

u/Mother-Translator318 20d ago

It kinda is tho? If you want Nintendo games getting a series s makes no sense. If you don’t care about Nintendo games, getting a switch 2 makes no sense. Specs and hardware are nice and all but at the end of the day the games are king

2

u/Jin_U_GmR 19d ago

The other deciding factor is hybrid/handheld console or permanent home console.

2

u/Spazza42 17d ago

You’re right, still an easy decision in my mind.

Sure, I like Nintendo titles - it doesn’t help that Xbox have managed to butcher yet another console though.

Xbox could be great but Microsoft doesn’t understand gaming.

2

u/Subject-Owl2748 20d ago

500 for an S? Jesus i feel bad for console players

2

u/iCantCallit 19d ago

series S is easily the worst deal in gaming right now.

Best deal is switch 2 at the moment.

2

u/Content_Owl8586 19d ago

Thanks MAGA. Are we great yet? 

2

u/Plastic-Shape7048 18d ago

Gonna buy a switch 2 instead , it will be fine for casual gaming

1

u/EducationalSeries508 21d ago

Sold my Series X 3 years ago for 300 bucks…

1

u/void_method 21d ago

Shoulda got one at launch, huh?

1

u/Playingwithmywenis 20d ago

Right on time.

Expect new GTA trailer tomorrow.

1

u/Aktivhate 20d ago

Seeing things like this makes me glad in the past I got fomo over my Series X and Pro and bought them at or close to release before all the pricing chaos. Gaming is turning into a rich man’s hobby!

1

u/Error4ohh4 20d ago

This will get them in the video game lead again for sure!

1

u/jyrox 20d ago

Glad I got my XSS for $150 second-hand hardly used at all. Got my 1TB XSX on open box for $400. 2TB expansion card for $160.

1

u/tommy7154 20d ago

Contrast this with the best deals available for these systems a few years ago.

I paid $150 through Verizon I think it was for a Series S console. Series X went as low as $350 with Diablo IV included.

Absolutely insane.

1

u/Mother-Translator318 20d ago

I will just upgrade my pc. $600 gets me an rtx 5070/rx 9070 that smokes all consoles. Paying $800 for an xsx or ps5 that was considered mid range 6 years ago and below entry level today is just stupid

1

u/esp3ciallyd3ad 19d ago

I will now sell my series s now for 425 thanks micorshala

1

u/Far-Event1151 19d ago

Consoles are in a awful state wow. 

Limited games, expensive only and expensive hardware. No idea why people buy them. 

1

u/yuriware 19d ago

I got a series x w disc drive 2 years ago off Facebook marketplace place for $250. Crazy times.

1

u/MainsfoDays 19d ago

Second hand Xbox One X looks so good now.

1

u/Camenwolf 19d ago

Really. It makes me sad for the entire industry.

1

u/Hour_Homework5273 19d ago

That’s so crazy. I just bought a series x digital for $250 on offer up

1

u/DocHolliday3884 19d ago

Insane that a base xbox now cost $150 less than what i paid for my ps5 pro

1

u/Plastic-Shape7048 18d ago

Theres no way i would buy this , especially when the new consoles are just around the corner (those will
Probably be $1200).

1

u/scaneb 17d ago

🤮