The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S released on November 10, and the launch day restock went pretty much the same as the preorders, with both consoles selling out immediately. Like the PS5, the Xbox Series X is a hot item, with demand for both next-gen consoles through the roof right now. If you weren’t able to snag the Series X or its smaller, digital-only sibling, the Series S, opportunities for buying it will be slim the rest of this year, save for one major event happening later this month: Black Friday. Microsoft has not announced any other restocks in the near future, so if you’re looking to grab and Xbox Series X or Series S before the holidays, then the Black Friday restocks are one of your best bets. But you’ll have to be quick.
Here’s what you need to know if you want to buy the Xbox Series X or Series S in the coming weeks.
Black Friday 2020 Xbox Series X/S restock
Now that the Xbox launch day stock is all gone, retailers are preparing for their next big restock on Black Friday. Several stores have confirmed they will have the Xbox Series X and S available for purchase that week, and though most are keeping orders online, at least one–GameStop–will have in-store availability.
In GameStop’s Black Friday ad, the games retailer revealed it will have the Series X and S in stores only on Black Friday (November 27). Every store will have a minimum of two Series X units at opening, though don’t expect them to have much more than that. Though a press release mentions “Xbox Series X/S” availability, it’s unclear if there will be a minimum of two Series S units per store as well, and when asked, the retailer declined to share any more details beyond what’s in its Black Friday ad. GameStop stores will open at 7 AM local time on Black Friday, and you’ll want to call your local store ahead of time for availability.
Though we saw a quick Walmart restock on November 19, the retailer’s Black Friday ad confirms it will also have Xbox Series X stock during Black Friday. The Walmart Black Friday ad does not show or mention the Series S, so it appears the restock will only feature the flagship console. The restock will be online-only at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET on Wednesday, November 25, which is two hours after the Black Friday sale officially starts on Walmart’s website. Make sure you have your page ready to go the second that time arrives or you will have essentially no chance to get the console, if the last restock is anything to go on. Also make sure your payment and shipping information has been saved ahead of time.
It’s unclear if Target will have the Xbox Series X on Black Friday. Target’s Black Friday 2020 ad only mentions the launch day restock and doesn’t hint at availability later this month.
Best Buy has kept its Xbox restock plans vague. The store did announce it will not have any Xbox Series X or Series S units in brick-and-mortar stores until 2021, but though its Black Friday ad shows the Xbox Series X, the retailer would not confirm availability during the event. Instead, it told GameSpot the Xbox Series X/S will be up for purchase on BestBuy.com whenever units are available.
If you miss out on restocks at the major retailers, reseller sites like StockX have plenty of units available, though be prepared to pay more than list price. Right now, buyers are asking around $380 for the Series S and $730 for the Series X.
No other retailers have shared specific plans for restocking the Xbox on Black Friday and beyond. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @GameSpotDeals for the latest updates on Xbox availability. In the meantime, catch up on our Xbox Series X review for our console impressions and more details.
Where to buy the Xbox Series X
Xbox Series X
Where to buy the Xbox Series S
Xbox Series S
Where to buy Xbox Series X/S accessories now
The new Xbox Wireless Controllers releasing alongside the Xbox Series X and Series S are available in Carbon Black, Robot White, and Shock Blue. They feature a more ergonomic design; textured grips on the bumpers, triggers, and back case; and an Elite controller-inspired hybrid D-pad for improved precision. The updated controllers also have a new integrated Share button for capturing and recording gameplay moments.
$60
The Carbon Black Xbox Wireless Controller is available to preorder for $60.
$60
The Robot White Xbox Wireless Controller is available to preorder for $60.
$65
The Shock Blue Xbox Wireless Controller is available to preorder for $65.
$25
This Play & Charge kit comes with a rechargeable battery and USB-C cable so you can charge your Xbox Series X controller while you play or in between sessions.
$20
Accessories brand PowerA has created officially licensed charging stands for the Xbox Series X and S to charge and display one wireless controller. They’re up for preorder now (releasing November 10) for $20 each. If you plan to pick up an extra controller along with your console, dual charging stations are also available for $30 to charge two controllers at once.
$220
Buying extra storage for the Xbox Series X or S is not going to be cheap. Seagate’s Storage Expansion Card is a custom PCIe Gen4x2 NVMe SSD and sells for $220. The extra storage doubles the 1TB storage space of the Xbox Series X and triples that of the 512GB Series S.
Xbox Series X games and subscription
Microsoft is pushing its Xbox Game Pass subscription for next-gen, which grants access to a massive, rotating library of games for a monthly fee, including the ability to play first-party games like Halo Infinite on day one. You can still preorder some of the biggest games coming to Xbox Series X and Series S now.
