Skip to main content

The Xbox Series X’s price may be more expensive than past generations

The Xbox Series X might cost consumers about $600, which would be the highest Xbox launch price in the console’s history. It could also lead Microsoft to make the same mistake Sony did over a generation ago with the PlayStation 3.

Fans are preparing for a possible early November launch, but there are still many questions up in the air, including price. However, a recent leak gives an idea of how much the Series X will cost.

Alanah Pearce, a gaming journalist, appeared on the Kinda Funny Xcast and mentioned a direct message she received suggesting the Series X’s will launch in November with a $600 price tag. Pearce said the message came from an anonymous retail employee and that it contained an image of the store’s “work screens.”

Alanah Pearce says someone sent her a photo from a retail store computer showing Xbox Series X price of $599 pic.twitter.com/etWxdhPtd3

— THE RED DRAGON (@TWTHEREDDRAGON) August 15, 2020

The price has not been confirmed by Microsoft yet. If it’s true, Microsoft is setting a new precedent for future Xbox consoles. Rumors have swirled regarding a possible Xbox Series S, which would be a disc-less but cheaper model. The original Xbox One, paired with the Kinect sensor, cost $500 at release, with the One S and One X later launching for $300 and $500, respectively.

A $600 price tag hindered the PlayStation 3’s 60 GB model at launch, which many viewed as overpriced, though the PS3 eventually rose above the Xbox 360 in sales years after release. It’s unclear if the Xbox Series X would elicit the same reaction over a decade later, given price inflation and the various technical improvements made over the years.

This leak also comes on the coattails of Halo Infinite‘s delay to 2021, which could be a deal-breaker for Halo fans and potential Xbox buyers. Halo Infinite was billed as the highlight of the Series X’s launch catalog.

There is equal speculation about the PlayStation 5’s price, with estimates ranging from $500 to $600, according to various leaks and predictions. The price of either console is a deciding factor for many looking forward to next-generation consoles so any cost difference could affect either console’s success at launch. Sony hasn’t confirmed the PS5’s exact launch date yet, though the Future of Gaming presentation offered a glimpse at the first-party content Microsoft will compete against.

Editors' Recommendations

The best games on Xbox Game Pass for right now (April 2024)

As the Xbox Game Pass program has grown, so has our list of the best games on Xbox Game Pass. After the launch of the Xbox Series X, Microsoft has doubled down on Game Pass, now offering well over 350 games on the console alone. To help you through option paralysis, we rounded up the top games on Microsoft's subscription platform.

Many titles are available on Xbox and PC, and some even have cross-save support. Most of the games are available for streaming on mobile, too, as long as you have Game Pass Ultimate. The Game Pass library is also constantly changing, so check out our monthly guide for addition and removal announcements.

Read more
I’m secretly hoping that the leaked all-white Xbox Series X isn’t real
An Xbox Series X sits next to both Series S models.

Xbox Microsoft

Xbox’s anticipated mid-generation console refresh might be right around the corner. Over the past few weeks, there have been some rumblings that an all-white Xbox Series X may be coming this year. That rumor kicked into second gear when Exputer posted photos it says it received of the device. The leaked images show a standard Xbox Series X with a white casing. The design is about the same, but there’s one key difference: It doesn’t have a disk drive. If the rumors are proven true, that’ll be the system’s selling point, potentially putting it at a lower price point than the current Series X.

Read more
Visions of Mana paints a promising picture of the RPG series’ return
Red-haired girl with horns and dragon wing in Visions of Mana

The vibrant settings and character designs in Visions of Mana instantly alerted me that I'd be knee-deep into fantasy, riding on the back of a giant black wolf into the grassy plains of Fallow Steppe. A lush landscape welcomed me as I chatted with my teammates on top of my mount and tussled with little woodland monsters.

I had this experience at this year's PAX East, where I went hands-on with a demo of the upcoming RPG. I never played previous Mana games, but I have enough experience with RPGs and real-time combat to name it one of the most gorgeous, action-packed games I played at the show. The shiny open-world and slick combat I experienced point to a strong comeback for the Mana series coming later this summer.

Read more