Microsof’s next-gen console, the Xbox Series X, is coming sometime this year. Though many details remain unannounced, the company has already outlined a great deal of detail regarding specs, and the outspoken Xbox head Phil Spencer has done rounds of interviews hinting at what we can expect. As a result, we already know quite a bit about Series X, even before its formal debut that we expect to take place in a digital format due to COVID-19. One question still looms large: how much will it cost?
Microsoft first began unveiling the Xbox Series X at The Game Awards, and has addressed the topic of price in comments and interviews. In June, Microsoft’s Jason Ronald said the company is keenly aware of what consumers see as “reasonable” for price, while stressing that it will be a high-end piece of hardware. Phil Spencer echoed those sentiments in November, suggesting that the company had learned a hard lesson from being both significantly more expensive and less powerful than the competition.
“I would say a learning from the Xbox One generation is we will not be out of position on power or price,” Spencer said. “If you remember the beginning of this generation we were a hundred dollars more expensive and, yes, we were less powerful. And we started Project Scarlett with this leadership team in place with a goal of having market success.”
Xbox Series X Specs Quick Look
- CPU: AMD Ryzen Custom Zen 2 CPU
- GPU: AMD Navi-based GPU (~12 TFLOPs)
- RAM: 16GB GDDR6 SDRAM
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Max Output Resolution: 8K
- Max Refresh Rate: 120Hz
All of that suggests a price that is on the higher-end of normalcy. One report with purportedly leaked specs in October claimed the higher-end model would be $500, which fits that criteria. However, it’s unclear if Microsoft is pursuing a strategy of two models at launch, so that report could be inaccurate. Spencer did mention in the Series X reveal that the name “gives us the freedom to do other things with that name so that we can create descriptors when we need to.” That implies a strategy around multiple models, at least long-term.
Spencer expanded his comments in a later interview, saying he feels good about the price and performance ratio and he feels Microsoft has a “winning plan” against Sony. That said, the price isn’t entirely set yet. Spencer also noted that the company is staying agile on price, anticipating factors like Sony’s price for the PS5 and how they could leverage value-added services like Game Pass and Smart Delivery.
One reason Microsoft hasn’t talked more openly about price could be that the decision is still in flux. Spencer said in June that the price could be impacted by a lot of factors, including President Donald Trump’s trade war with China.
“The price will be important. Clearly, price is one of those things that people want to know,” he said. “As we’re watching how the cost of the components are coming in, and things like tariffs and other things, trying to figure out what that price is going to be next year. We have a price point in mind; I think we’re going to hit that. But we want to make sure everything comes in right. We’ll get price out as soon as we can.”
Finally, we may not know the price yet, but Microsoft is offering a roundabout way to start paying in installments. The Xbox All Access program returned for the holiday season, letting you essentially make monthly payments on a new Xbox One along with Game Pass Ultimate, which includes both the subscription service and Xbox Live Gold.
The subscription model, similar to cell phone payment plans, has you pay off your console over 24 months. If you go for the highest tier–which includes an Xbox One X–by the end of 2019, you can upgrade to the Xbox Series X after 12 months. At that point, your 24-month payment plan will reset, and Microsoft hasn’t detailed what those monthly payments will be. Assuming Microsoft wants to move its All Access customers neatly over to the new console without raising their monthly rate, the new console would need to be priced at roughly the same point as a current Xbox One X–which is $500.
For more on the Xbox Series X, check out everything we learned and our pre-order guide.
- Xbox One Games With Gold For April 2020 Revealed
- Xbox Series X Release Date Listed On Xbox Site, But Microsoft Says No Announcement Yet
- Xbox Series X: Full Specs, Target Performance, And More Revealed
- Xbox Series X: Release Date, Specs, Price, And Everything We Know
You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos.
Click To Unmute
-
New Cyberpunk 2077 Xbox One X Revealed
-
The Complete Resident Evil Timeline Explained
-
Top New Games Releasing On Switch, PS4, And PC This Week — April 19-25, 2020
-
Top New Video Games Releasing On Switch, PS4, Xbox One, And PC This Week — April 12-18, 2020
-
Final Fantasy 7 Remake: 34 Cool Easter Eggs And Callbacks
-
Westworld Breakdown: Season 3 Episode 6 “Decoherence” Top Theories, Things You Missed & Easter Eggs
-
Let’s Play God Of War – 2 Year Anniversary
-
Bad Boys For Life: Behind The Scenes Of That Incredible Chase Scene
-
How To Get Good At Valorant Without Playing It
-
Guilty Gear Strive Closed Beta – 7 Minutes Of Faust Gameplay
-
500% More Resident Evil Animations And Emotional Reactions To FF7 Remake | Good News Gaming Ep 3
-
Devs Ending Explained – Episode 8 Plot Breakdown And Theories
Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?
Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
Sorry, but you can’t access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year2020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900
By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Now Playing: Xbox Series X – World Premiere Trailer