Summary
- Microsoft is raising the price of the Xbox Series S in Brazil, reducing its appeal as a cheaper alternative to the Xbox Series X.
- The Xbox Series S is a budget version of the Series X, lacking features like a disc drive and 4K resolution, but it offers a lower barrier to entry for gamers.
- Microsoft's decision to raise the price of the Series S risks making the console less worthwhile compared to its more powerful counterpart, the Series X.
Bad news for Xbox fans in Brazil, as Microsoft has announced that the price of the Xbox Series S is going up in the region. From the start, a lot of the appeal of the Xbox Series S lay in it being the cheaper alternative to the Xbox Series X, but that won’t so much be the case in one part of the world very soon.
The current generation of Xbox has been unique in that Microsoft offers two distinct consoles instead of the usual one. The Xbox Series S can be considered a budget version of the Xbox Series X. While it lacks features of the Series X like a disc drive and native 4K resolution, it costs only $300 or the regional equivalent, a full $200 less than the Series X. That low barrier to entry, compared to the prices of competition like the PlayStation 5 and Steam Deck, has made the Series S an appealing choice for many a gamer wanting to experience the latest current-gen games without breaking the bank.
Xbox Series S Is Much More Popular Than People Think
Documents reveal that Xbox Series S, the smaller, less powerful ninth-generation console by Microsoft, may be more popular with gamers than expected.
However, much of that appeal is being diminished in Brazil thanks to the Xbox Series S’ impending price hike there. Local outlet The Enemy broke the news, which was later reported by Windows Central, revealing that the console will now cost $3,599 in Brazilian Real (around $710 USD), a sharp increase from the original price range of around R$2500. For comparison, that’s about the same price as the original Digital Edition PlayStation 5. It should be noted that this price bump will only affect the standard 512GB Series S in the region, and not its more recent 1TB model.
In a statement given to The Enemy, Microsoft assured that it remains focused on bringing “the best gaming experience at a variety of price points” and providing gamers with choices that best suit their needs. Beyond that, the company didn’t explain its reasoning for raising the price of the Series S, so it’s unknown whether the change is meant to offset the high cost of imported game consoles in Brazil, or if there’s another reason.
This isn’t entirely unprecedented a move, as the PS5 also saw a price increase in multiple regions last year. It’s possible that Microsoft could be planning to extend the Series S’ price bump to other regions as well, but so far it’s only been confirmed for Brazil.
While not unprecedented, with the Xbox Series S, it still seems a bit strange. Given its weaker hardware, it's the pricing that makes the Series S worth selling alongside the Xbox Series X. By bringing its price closer to the Series X’s, Microsoft risks making the Series S almost pointless, as gamers may start finding it less worthwhile next to its more powerful counterpart. Only time will tell if this is a one-off deal or a sign of a more lasting change for the Xbox Series S.
- Brand
- Microsoft
- Original Release Date
- November 10, 2020
- Operating System
- Proprietary (Windows-based)
- Storage
- 512 GB
- VR Support
- No
- Resolution
- 720p - 4K UHD
Released alongside the Xbox Series X, the Xbox Series S is Microsoft's budget option for the ninth console generation. Designed exclusively for digital gaming, the Series S can run the same games as the Series X, albeit at a potentially lower resolution and frame rate.
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