Bad news for Xbox fans in Brazil, as Microsoft has announced a significant price hike for the Xbox Series S, dimming the console's appeal as a budget-friendly alternative to the Xbox Series X. What was once a beacon of affordability is about to become less so in this region.
The current generation of Xbox has been marked by Microsoft's unconventional approach, offering not one but two distinct consoles. The Xbox Series S is often dubbed the budget version of the Xbox Series X. While it lacks some features of its more powerful counterpart, such as a disc drive and native 4K resolution, it comes at a price point of $300 or its regional equivalent, a full $200 less than the Series X. This attractive price has made the Series S an appealing choice for gamers looking to dive into the latest current-gen games without breaking the bank, especially in a gaming landscape where competitors like the PlayStation 5 and Steam Deck come with heftier price tags.
However, the allure of the Xbox Series S in Brazil is set to wane as the impending price increase looms. According to reports from local outlet The Enemy, later corroborated by Windows Central, the console's price in Brazil will skyrocket to $3,599 in Brazilian Real (approximately $710 USD). This marks a sharp increase from the original price, which hovered around R$2500. To put it into perspective, this new price tag puts the Series S in the same range as the original Digital Edition PlayStation 5. It's important to note that this price hike only affects the standard 512GB Series S in the region, excluding the more recent 1TB model.
In a statement provided to The Enemy, Microsoft emphasized its commitment to offering a variety of price points to cater to gamers' needs. However, the company did not divulge the rationale behind raising the Series S's price in Brazil. It remains unclear whether this move aims to offset the high cost of imported game consoles in the region or if there are other factors at play.
This price increase isn't entirely unprecedented, as the PlayStation 5 also saw price hikes in multiple regions last year. There's a possibility that Microsoft may extend the Series S's price adjustment to other regions in the future, but, for now, it's only confirmed for Brazil.
While not entirely unheard of, the decision to increase the Xbox Series S's price is still perplexing. It's the affordability of the Series S that made it a worthwhile addition alongside the Series X, given its relatively weaker hardware. By narrowing the price gap with the Series X, Microsoft risks rendering the Series S less appealing to gamers, who may opt for the more potent counterpart instead. Only time will reveal if this price hike is an isolated occurrence or a sign of a broader shift in the pricing strategy for the Xbox Series S.
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