OPINION : Microsoft is put forward the price of a console that , five years in , is passably much surplus to requirements . Gamers can and will say “ no ”
The idiocy of 2025 has me really interested in existential nihilistic delusion , but that does n’t give the account . As such , I ’m contemplating ludicrous tidings like one of the world ’s richest companionship summate to the price of a 5 - year - old game console that has been a loser from day one .
The Xbox Series S is going up £ 50 to £ 299.99 . TheXbox Series X1 TB is going up £ 20 for £ 499.99 and the Xbox Series X 2 TB is going up £ 40 to £ 589 . At this stagecoach of a console table ’s lifecycle we ’re used to seeing the prices fall down , but today they ’re blend up .
In its infinite wisdom Microsoft is kindle the monetary value on a spell ironware that , because of the company ’s own alteration of tact towards cloud play , you do n’t necessitate to own to play most of the biz . All you really need is a £ 50 Fire Stick and a controller .
The expected increase
This increase was in the C. W. Post though . Sonyalready slice reset the injury with the PS5 , and Nintendo ’s games are gon na be more expensive on the Switch 2 .
We can never bear the corporate world to pluck up the slack and give a penny when time are tough . We can never ask the companies we ’ve been loyal to as fans and consumers to suck it up and take the temporary hit and say “ we got you here sept ” until the storm passes .
We certainly do n’t expect a companionship like Microsoft , whichcosied up to the somebody largely responsible for the damage increasesin the promise of currying favour for its stage business agenda , to avoid passing the real dollar to consumers now that plan has stunningly backfire .
I ’m sick to death of it , to be honest . ill of the greed and exploitation . grisly of the total sordid mess of a engineering science industry that is disconnected from dish its customers only and frankly . After 100 days I ’m already sick of death of amoral tech companies capitulating to whatever Washington dictate .
Microsoft ’s stock is up 9 % today on the day these price increment were announced , in case you were wondering . The company just report Q3 earnings per contribution of $ 3.46 on tax income of $ 70 billion . And now they desire an extra £ 50 off you for an Xbox Series S.
I ’d be complaining about Microsoft boost the price for novel secret plan from $ 70 to $ 80 in the United States too ( thanks to Nintendo for setting that precedent by the way ) , but to be honest , where are they ? You ’ve got ta have AAA game to buy AAA game and Microsoft has expend the last 5 old age providing the occasional cut of filet mignon among an shambles of fight .
Name me a single secret plan in the grapevine that makes it worth you paying extra for the console table ironware at this point in this genesis ? It ’s not like this is a PS5 is it ? With loads of exciting exclusive place in the pipeline you are n’t going to get elsewhere ! Hell , even the biggest Xbox exclusive are go to end up on PS5 within month now .
Where ’s the incoming star that ’s sound to obligate you to buy a Series S or X now , five years in ? Hell , if mine were to fall apart tomorrow , what would be the point of replacing it ? To have another hoot around Mexico in Forza ? To diddle through Psychonauts 2 again ? Listen , the bestXbox Series Xgames roundup does n’t get added to very often around these parts because it does n’t demand to be .
There ’s a simple solution here : Do n’t buy an Xbox . Just do n’t . If you need to play most of the games , they ’re on Game Pass . moderately soon you ’ll be able-bodied tobuy games to own and stream them over the cloudtoo . you may employ a controller onetime or unexampled via your laptop computer , pad of paper , headphone , video , Fire Stick , and more without adding an extra piece of Department of Energy guzzle hardware to the dwelling house .
Microsoft admit as much itself in its not - well-nigh - contrite - enough explanation . “ We empathize that these change are challenge , and they were made with careful consideration give market conditions and the move up cost of development . look out front , we continue to focus on offer more ways to take on more games across any cover and ensuring value for Xbox player , ” the companionship says .
Microsoft has made Xbox a disposable religious service , so use it . Get whatever cheap , on - sale , stacked Game Pass Ultimate membership board and expend only that . Do n’t support them . Do n’t be a fan of them . In fact do n’t grease one’s palms an Xbox ever again . As time move on there ’s literally going to be no point in the computer hardware . Game Pass is bring forth 4 K cyclosis over the cloud presently . Before too long the cloud streaming quality will be indistinguishable from the cabinet experience .
Ifyou must have an Xbox Series X , you could buy mine . It ’s arguably the most misguided tech purchase I ’ve ever made .