Summary
Bad news for Xbox fans in Brazil, as Microsoft has announced that the price of theXbox Series Sis going up in the region. From the start, a lot of the appeal of the Xbox Series S lay in itbeing 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 5and 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.
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 waslater 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 thehigh cost of imported game consoles in Brazil, or if there’s another reason.
This isn’t entirely unprecedented a move, asthe PS5 also saw a price increase in multiple regionslast 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 theXbox 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.
Xbox Series S
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.
