Xbox Series S, The “Cheap” Option, Now Costs As Much As Series X Did Six Years Ago

This article was originally published on link to post

When Xbox Series S launched alongside Series X and PS5, it presented a compelling argument: Play all of the same games as elsewhere, albeit with lesser performance and visuals, for way cheaper. $300 felt surprisingly reasonable, giving you a way to save $100 compared to the cheapest PS5 and $200 compared to the more premium PS5 and Series X models. With the Series S turning six later this year, you’d expect it–like every other console–to get cheaper over time, as has always been the case. But this is 2026, baby. Welcome to hell.

Beginning August 1, Xbox Series S will cost as much as Xbox Series X did at launch in November 2020: $500. Almost six years after launch, the price will have increased 67%. We’ve already covered news of this Xbox price increase, and yet the reality of Series S now hitting the Series X’s nearly six-year-old launch price is one of the most staggering facts of this entire saga. (For now, you can still grab one for $380 on Amazon, which is more than you would have previously paid but still a hell of a lot better than $500.)

It’s the exact opposite direction the price should be