Xbox's logo floats in space.
By
Lee D'Amato
Published 11 minutes ago
Lee D’Amato is a writer born, raised, and based in Queens, New York. With collective thousands of hours in games like Final Fantasy, Metal Gear, Elden Ring, and The Legend of Zelda, he's now writes game features, guides, and reviews for Screen Rant, but has covered a wide range of topics, including ancient history, affordable travel, and overall health.
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Xbox consoles could see another price increase soon, according to new leaks. As it stands, you can currently get an Xbox Series S for $400 - $450, or a Series X for $600 - $650, unless you're lucky enough to snag a Black Friday deal.
However, those prices may not last. In a video on YouTube, leaker Moore's Law is Dead (via The Game Post) suggested that a component shortage could cause Microsoft to increase Xbox prices even further. Moore's Law claims this is due to artificial intelligence organization OpenAI's deal with Samsung and SK hynix, which is expected to reserve around 900,000 DRAM components per month, reducing the number of parts available for everyone else.
Xbox Pricing Could Increase Further
How A RAM Shortage Could Affect Xbox
Custom Image by Ben Brosofsky
According to The Game Post, the OpenAI RAM deal has already caused other companies to panic buy as much RAM as possible, stockpiling ahead of a potential future shortage. However, Moore's Law warns, "“[Microsoft] didn’t plan ahead at all, apparently.
"Multiple sources of mine have apparently been warned by sales reps at Microsoft that this is going to affect the Xbox Series consoles very, very soon," he added.
If true, this would mark the third price hike for Xbox Series X/S consoles since their launch: the first in May, and the second in September. Today, you can get an Xbox Series S starting at $399, against a $299 launch price; a Series X will run you at least $599, versus a $499 launch price.
It's not the only Xbox product to have gone up in price recently, either, with certain Xbox accessories raising their prices alongside the consoles in May. Game Pass raised its subscription fees across the board in October, bringing the monthly cost of an Ultimate subscription from $19.99 to $29.99.
Microsoft also announced that some of its first-party games would see $80 price tags this holiday season, but at least one game has already walked that back.
It's worth noting, however, that no RAM shortage woes or price increases have been acknowledged by Microsoft. None of this is confirmed, and Xbox prices could very well stay in the same place.
It's A Volatile Time In Gaming
Price Increases Abound
The Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch logos in front of a bright, blurred screenshot.
This is just the latest bump in the road for console prices, which have gone through a lot of turbulence as of late. PlayStation 5 and Switch consoles also saw a price increase this past summer, ending an era in console gaming.
Once upon a time, it was common for prices to go down over the course of a console's lifetime: big sales, bundle deals, or upgraded versions would eventually create decent discounts. Now, it seems like the opposite, with inflation causing console prices to increase over time.
If you've been in the hobby for a while, it's not your first rodeo. A global chip shortage in 2020 reduced the available supply of home consoles drastically, making it virtually impossible to get your hands on a PS5 or Xbox. Through all that, though, price increases never factored in.
These rumors come at an uncertain time for Xbox, too. First thought to be bowing out of the console market, Xbox recently unveiled the shadow of a plan for its next-generation hardware, which some leaks indicate will be more comparable to a gaming PC.
It's hard to predict what's next for the console market, and the rumored RAM shortage could throw another wrench in the works if it comes to pass. How it could affect Xbox's future remains to be seen.
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Xbox Series X/S
Brand
Xbox
Original Release Date
November 10, 2020
Original MSRP (USD)
Series X priced at US$499 and the Series S priced at US$299
Hardware Versions
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Series S
Weight
9.8 lb
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