“As is typical for the console industry, we stopped manufacturing the original Xbox One when we introduced Xbox One S.” Though that was over a year ago now, retailers have now started to run out, including Microsoft, who now only sells refurbished versions. That puts the total lifespan of the original console at around 4 years. For those with a short memory, the console launched at $500 and was originally paired with the Kinect sensor. The price compared to the PS4 led to an early domination of sales by Sony. Microsoft later offered an unbundled version, cutting $100 from the price tag.
Falling Prices
Nowadays, the console comes for much cheaper. New customers can buy the Xbox One S for $249, which sports improvements like HDR, 4K video, and a smaller footprint. Those looking for a more premium experience can pre-order the Xbox One X for $500, but they might have trouble. The ‘Scorpio Edition’ of the console is currently sold out in most stores across the world. We won’t know when you can pre-order the regular Xbox One X edition until next month. With that in mind, there’s very little reason for Microsoft to continue selling its original console, which has a rocky reputation and looks dated. As a knock on effect, the company should be able to meet demand for both modern consoles this holiday season.
