Key Takeaways
1. Xbox console prices are set to increase in the U.S. starting October 3rd, following a previous price hike in May.
2. Some retailers, like Costco in New Zealand, are offering significant discounts on Xbox bundles to clear out stock.
3. The Xbox Series X Forza Bundle has seen a price drop from NZ$879.99 to NZ$439.99 (about $256 USD).
4. Sales of Xbox consoles are lagging behind the PlayStation 5, with significant differences in global sales figures.
5. Microsoft attributes the price hike to falling profits and a “changing macroeconomic environment,” while gamers speculate about tariffs affecting prices.
Gamers looking to buy an Xbox gaming console have received more bad news from Microsoft. After prices already went up in May, U.S. customers should prepare for even higher MSRPs starting October 3rd. While some retailers have stopped selling the console, others are slashing prices to clear out their stock. For instance, in New Zealand, Costco has reduced the price of the Xbox Series X by 50%.
Exciting Discounts on Bundles
A user named Akbarock shared a post on the Gaming subreddit that showed this significant price drop. The Xbox Series X Forza Bundle is now priced at NZ$439.99, down from NZ$879.99. When converted to USD, this price is about $256.
It seems that the store may have had too many of this bundle in stock. Interestingly, there’s a chance that Forza Horizon 6 will be announced soon, which could lead to more discounts on Forza Horizon 5. However, it’s uncertain how widespread this discount is across New Zealand. In fact, Costco in other areas has stopped selling the Xbox Series X and S both online and in many physical stores. It’s quite rare to see a current-gen console that still gets support from publishers being sold at such low prices.
Challenges for Other Retailers
Other retailers haven’t offered similar deals but are struggling to move Microsoft’s gaming consoles. The sales difference between the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X and Series S keeps increasing. According to VGChartz, by June, around 5.2 million PS5s were sold worldwide in 2025, in contrast to just 1.27 million for Microsoft’s consoles. Reports indicate that Microsoft has already cut back on hardware shipments to Europe and other regions.
As the Xbox Series X price is set to rise to $649.99 in October, U.S. shoppers may be on the lookout for discounts. Mike Ybarra, a former Blizzard President, linked the price hike to falling profits. Nevertheless, Microsoft pointed to a “changing macroeconomic environment,” with many gamers suggesting tariffs as a potential reason.
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