Xbox Series X price just leaked — and it's shockingly high

Xbox Series X
(Image credit: Xbox)

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X could cost $599 and potentially be more expensive than the PS5, according to Alanah Pearce on the Kinda Funny XCast

A retail source told Pearce that the Xbox Series X will cost nearly $600, which is surprising given previous rumours had suggested the Microsoft’s next-generation console could cost as low as $400. As mentioned near the 41-minute mark in the video below, the source messaged a picture of their work screen that had the Xbox Series X price on it. 

That’s arguably some pretty compelling evidence that the Xbox Series X could indeed be a more expensive then first thought. However, the price could be simply a holding one for the Xbox Series X, given Microsoft hasn’t announced any formal pricing. 

But with the console launching in November, it’s arguably a little late for holding prices. Retailers will likely want to decide how much stock of the console they’ll want to get in based on how expensive it is and how likely it will sell at its recommended retail price. 

With the PS5 tipped to cost $500, there were rumors that the Xbox Series X would undercut it by $100. Such a price cut would indicate that Microsoft wants to get people into its Xbox ecosystem and may be willing to take a loss on its console hardware. 

However, logic would dictate that as the Xbox Series X offers 12 teraflops of power compared to the PS5’s 10.28 teraflops, it would be the more expensive console. So paying some $100 more for an Xbox Series X over a PS5 would make sense given the gap in power. 

And Xbox boss Phil Spencer has said that Microsoft isn’t concerned about selling lots of Xbox Series X units, as the plan is to build out the Xbox ecosystem with Xbox Game Pass, xCloud game streaming, cross-generation gaming, and Windows 10 PCs. So if the Xbox Series X costs nearly $600 and people decide not to buy it at launch and go for a PS5 instead, Microsoft still has plenty of ways to bring gamers on board.

If this seems like a bold move by Microsoft, it’s worth remembering that Xbox Game Pass currently has 10 million subscribers, as reported by The Verge in April. With Game Pass costing $4.99 to $14.99 a month, Microsoft is essentially making around $100 million a month from the service already. So if next-generation Xbox games, which are coming to the Xbox One for the first two years, encourage more people to sign up for Xbox Game Pass even without getting an Xbox Series X, Microsoft will still make millions upon millions of dollars. 

Of course, we’ll have to wait and see how this all plays out when the new consoles come in November. But it’s looking like neither will really lose in this next-generation console war. 

Roland Moore-Colyer

Roland Moore-Colyer a Managing Editor at Tom’s Guide with a focus on news, features and opinion articles. He often writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he’s also got an interest in cars. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face. 

  • brunoscopel
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  • zanretsuken
    I'm unsure of why people have these outlandish ideas and why people are surprised at basic logic. At first, it was my friends who swore up & down that the X1X and PS5 would cost 700-1000 dollars. They said that PS4 originally launched at 499 so it made sense. HUH?!? HOW SO? First of all they didn't even get the original MSRP right.

    PS3 was the only outlier, whereas 360 launched at 399, which came to be PS3's default price as well once Sony readjusted the system specs. PS4 launched at 399 and X1 launched at 499 (due to Kinect), which MS later took the Kinect out to make the default price 399.

    Here we are with PS5 & XSX. How are people surprised at 499 & 599 respectively? They are logical steps up following the previous generation. The XSX is more powerful & so it commands a higher price point than the PS5. Microsoft also has the rumored XSS & so it would make sense that that package would be competitive with the PS5.
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