Grab one before the hikes go into effect

Gaming is about to get a lot more expensive — at least for Xbox fans. Effective today, May 1, Microsoft is increasing the price of Xbox consoles and controllers, and not by an insignificant amount:

• The Xbox Series S 512GB, is now $380, more than a 25 percent increase from $300.

• The Xbox Series X 1TB Digital is now $550, a 22 percent increase from $450.

• The Xbox Series S 1TB is now $430, a 22 percent increase from $350).

• The Xbox Series X 1TB with Blu-ray is now $600, a 20 percent increase from $500.

• The Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition is now $730, a 22 percent increase from $600.

The news doesn’t end there. Controllers and headsets now start at $65 and top out at $200 for the “Full” Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. Games will also increase in price, though not right away: “Some of our new, first-party games will launch at $79.99 beginning this holiday season,” Microsoft explains. That last one seems more about leaning in to Nintendo’s ambitious Switch 2 game pricing, and less about any possible tariff impact (though it’s worth noting Xbox prices are going up worldwide, not just in the US.)

But not all is negative, as if you’re in the market for a new console, prices at online retailers have yet to catch up. Before you whip out your credit card, remember some key caveats here. The current Xbox platform is effectively five years old, with the leaked mid-gen “Brooklin” refresh seemingly canceled. An all-new Xbox generation is also expected to arrive in the next few years, perhaps 2028, with leaks suggesting it may be a “cloud hybrid” machine. And more and more previous Xbox exclusives are beginning to pop up on the PS5, too. That said, if you’ve been waiting to buy an Xbox, now is the time, as these legacy prices could disappear any minute.

Best Xbox deals

Walmart

Considering the announcement that this console will now start at $380, snagging one for $274 seems like a screamin’ deal, over $100 in savings. Just make sure that 512GB is enough for your gaming needs before you click purchase. (Expandable storage modules are out there, but they’re not cheap.)

$274 at Walmart

Walmart

On the fence about how much storage you need? Take it from someone who has made (and paid for) this mistake in the past: go bigger. Especially while this console is at this price. The new MSRP is $430.

$347 at Walmart

Amazon

Even though I knew I would see the day, for some reason, seeing a gaming console for more than $500 just hurts. Luckily, the 1TB digital model can still be found for under that price point, at least for the time being, as the MSRP has just increased to $550.

$448 at Amazon

Amazon

Yesterday this wasn’t a deal at all. Today it’s $100 under the MSRP. If you still want to play disc-based games and movies, snag this model while it’s still at pre-price-hike price.

$440 at Amazon

Amazon

Price hikes or not, this is a legitimately good deal on a legitimately great controller. Don’t like the all-white look? Check out the more colorful options below.

$45 at Walmart

Walmart

Sure, you pay $5 more for a colored controller, but I think it’s worth it, especially when you use it every day. $50 for a wireless controller is a good deal even without the increase in MSRP.

$50 at Walmart

Walmart

If you use your controller every single day, this is a worthy upgrade at a more-than worthy price. The new MSRP sits at $150, so you’re getting a solid 33% discount of $49.

$101 at Walmart