Thanks to a cross-promotion with Monster Energy, the price for the Xbox Series X may have been leaked, potentially making it the most expensive Xbox console yet. While the price of Microsoft's upcoming next-gen console has yet to be officially revealed, some quick math has a few people speculating whether the Xbox Series X will be Microsoft's most expensive console.
Halo Infinite themed Monster Energy cans began to appear in stores at the end of July boasting double XP in-game for players who purchase the crossover cans. While it has been announced that Halo Infinite's release will be delayed until 2021, Monster Energy has stated that the Xbox promotion will carry on as planned. The cans will be available in stores from now until December 31, and purchasers can enter to win special prizes including one of 200 Xbox Series X consoles.
According to a statement from Monster Energy, the total approximate retail value (ARV) of the Sweepstakes 1st Prizes is $119,998 USD. The 1st Prizes refers to the 200 entrants who win an Xbox Series X console and a copy of Halo Infinite. When dividing the ARV by the 200 winners, each prize should even out to be worth $599.99. This leads to believe that the Xbox Series X along with a copy of Halo Infinite will be accompanied by a $600 price tag. Regardless of whether or not Microsoft and Monster are giving away copies Halo Infinite for free, the Xbox Series X could break the record for Microsoft's most expensive Xbox ranging from $529 (if Halo Infinite is valued at $70) to $599. However, the promotion does make it clear that the ARV is not final, and it does include extra swag that could account for some of the value.
Second to the supposed cost of the Xbox Series X is the Xbox One X's launch price which was $499. Now, gamers can pick up Microsoft's latest current-gen console for nearly half the price at $299. If the numbers add up, players could potentially be paying $100 more than they did for the launch of the Xbox One X. It also means that players could have to pay double the current price of the Xbox One X to play the exact same games. And now that Halo Infinite has been delayed, the Xbox Series X's launch has little to offer prospective buyers.
Hopefully, the numbers don't add up and players aren't forced to shell out $600 for a fancy new rectangle. Especially since the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, recently stated that Microsoft won't have any next-gen exclusives for at least a few years. If players can buy a console for half the price of a next-gen console and still play the same games, there's no reason to spend that kind of money. Xbox users still have a couple of years before they will have to buy an Xbox Series X to play the latest games, and they should take as much time as they can before making that big of a monetary commitment.
The Xbox Series X will launch in November 2020.
Source: Monster Energy