Within the instant aftermath of Microsoft’s announcement that it was elevating costs of the Xbox Collection X and S for the third time this technology, a tiny pattern broke out on our know-how 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 lively Prime Day offers on Xbox consoles, and the message from these articles is evident: The most effective and most fiscally accountable time to purchase an Xbox is correct now, so go do it.
Permit me to play satan’s advocate.
Whereas it typically is smart to plan purchases round identified value hikes, it is a dumb time to purchase an Xbox. Sure, even with reductions providing an Xbox Collection S for $350 and an Xbox Collection X for $573 — hell, particularly at these costs. In 2020, the Xbox Collection S launched at $300 and the Xbox Collection X was $500. Over the previous couple of years, I personally picked up a Collection X for lower than $400 and a Collection S for $250. These consoles are actually of their sixth yr, and usually round this time within the technology, {hardware} costs can be dropping and we would be getting cool colorways and bundles. Right now’s discounted Xbox costs are obscene for a console coming into its sixth yr.
It is price noting that right now’s market is uniquely unmoored, fueled by a reminiscence and storage scarcity that is driving up {hardware} costs throughout the tech trade. Nonetheless, Microsoft is a core a part of the issue right here. The corporate is exacerbating the RAM scarcity with huge 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 could possibly say there’s by no means been a worse time, in actual fact. Microsoft is in disarray following years of layoffs and studio closures, falling console earnings, and executive-level modifications to the Xbox enterprise in 2026. Simply this month, information broke that Double Tremendous, 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 extra layoffs in July.
On the software program aspect of issues, Xbox does not have a ton of unique video games, as its first-party titles are broadly obtainable on PC. Its current hits like Avowed, Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle and Keeper are all obtainable on Steam, and Xbox is legally obligated to distribute its largest first-party franchises (i.e., Name of Responsibility) throughout platforms. That is to not point out the push to get its video games on PlayStation and Change, regardless of how short-lived that will find yourself being. Certainly one 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 extra, the corporate is a pacesetter in platform-agnostic cloud play. When every part is an Xbox and Xbox video games can be found wherever, you do not really want 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 value, simply because it’ll change into 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 shopper tech weblog, however there isn’t a real-world achievement for amassing 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. Not like Xbox costs, that are solely rising. The precise sensible transfer is to attend till the following technology hits — which is outwardly very quickly — and both decide that up or seize a Collection console that can then be priced to clear.
That is nothing towards the media shops that’ve run tales encouraging individuals to make the most of Prime Day Xbox console costs. Honestly, there’s a very small marketplace for this recommendation and it is effective to point out these six individuals the place the most effective offers are in the mean time. However as general-audience recommendation, it sucks.
Apart from, aren’t you saving up for a Steam Machine proper now?
