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An Xbox costs a lot more than it did a year ago. Microsoft raised US console prices 3 times between May 2025 and August 2026, and the Series X now lists at $799.99 while the cheapest Series S starts at $499.99.
That changes what an Xbox Black Friday deal can be. Last year Microsoft didn’t discount its consoles at all, and the savings came from games, Game Pass trials and accessories. GTA 6 also arrives on November 19, so many buyers will be shopping for a console right before the sale.
So on November 27, the Xbox savings are on games, Game Pass and controllers, plus any retailer extra on a console at list price. Each Xbox below has today’s price, last year’s offer and my expectation.
Xbox Prices Right Now
Microsoft announced the latest increase on Xbox Wire in June. It added $100 to the 512GB models and $150 to the 1TB models from August 1, 2026. It also retired the 2TB Series X.
| Console | Storage | Disc drive | US list price | Before August 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S | 512GB | No | $499.99 | $399.99 |
| Xbox Series S | 1TB | No | $599.99 | $449.99 |
| Xbox Series X Digital | 1TB | No | $749.99 | $599.99 |
| Xbox Series X | 1TB | Yes | $799.99 | $649.99 |
Every Xbox plays the same games. You’re paying for 4K graphics and a disc drive with the Series X, and for 1440p graphics and a smaller price with the Series S.
Black Friday 2025 vs 2026
Last Black Friday, Microsoft kept its console prices and put its discounts elsewhere. This is what that looks like next to this year’s prices:
| Console | List price, Black Friday 2025 | Black Friday 2025 offer | List price now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S 512GB | $399.99 | Small retailer cuts, such as $20 off at Best Buy | $499.99 |
| Xbox Series S 1TB | $449.99 | No official discount | $599.99 |
| Xbox Series X Digital | $599.99 | No official discount | $749.99 |
| Xbox Series X | $649.99 | No official discount | $799.99 |
So the cheapest Xbox now costs $100 more than it did last Black Friday, and the Series X costs $150 more. Microsoft’s own 2025 sale was all about software and add-ons:
- Game Pass: 14 days for $1 for new members
- Games: up to 75% off Xbox digital games from November 20 to December 3
- Trade-ins: up to $130 off a new console with an eligible trade-in at the Microsoft Store
- Accessories: select Xbox wireless accessories on sale, plus free controller engraving through Xbox Design Lab
What’s Pushing Xbox Prices Up
Three changes explain the 2026 prices, and none of them is likely to reverse by November.
Memory and storage costs. Microsoft said console memory and storage prices have risen more than 2.5 times, and it expects them to double again by fall 2027. Every Xbox needs both RAM and an SSD, and AI servers are absorbing much of the world’s supply of both. That is why the 1TB models went up more than the 512GB ones.
The tariff ruling didn’t help. The IEEPA tariffs behind much of the 2025 pressure were struck down on February 20, 2026, and Microsoft raised prices again in August anyway. Memory had become the bigger cost.
Fewer people are buying consoles. Circana reported that US console sales in August 2026 were the lowest for any August since 2013. Weak demand gives retailers a reason to add gift cards or bundles, but Microsoft hasn’t cut a console price in response so far.
What to Expect This Black Friday
Microsoft hasn’t revealed its Black Friday 2026 sale. Last year’s offers went live on November 20, so expect news in the week before Thanksgiving. Here’s what I’d plan for:
- Likely: a big digital game sale, a cheap Game Pass trial for new members and discounts on controllers.
- Likely: retailer gift cards or game bundles on consoles sold at list price, especially around GTA 6.
- Possible: a small retailer cut on the Series S, similar to last year’s $20.
- Unlikely: any Xbox back at its 2025 price. Microsoft just raised prices because of memory costs it expects to keep climbing.
These are the offers worth acting on:
- A console at list price with a gift card or a free game worth at least $50
- Game Pass Ultimate below its $22.99 monthly price, or a longer trial
- Xbox Wireless Controller at $10 or more off
Which Xbox to Buy
The right Xbox depends on your TV and how you buy games. I’d rank them like this for most buyers:
Xbox Series S
My pick for most people is the Xbox Series S, especially for a 1080p or 1440p TV or a child’s first console.
- 512GB or 1TB SSD, with no disc drive
- Targets 1440p, so it suits most TVs that aren’t 4K
- Plays the same games as the Series X, including GTA 6
The trade-off is storage. Big games fill 512GB fast, so the 1TB model is worth the extra if you install more than a handful of games. Microsoft calls the Series S the lowest-cost way to play this year’s biggest releases, and that’s still true at $499.99.
Xbox Series X Digital
The Series X Digital gives you full 4K performance for $50 less than the disc model, if you only buy digital games.
- 1TB SSD and the same 4K, up to 120fps performance as the Series X
- No disc drive, so physical games and 4K Blu-ray movies are out
- Black Friday target: list price with a gift card or game included
Xbox Series X
The Xbox Series X is for a 4K TV and a library of physical games or 4K Blu-ray movies.
- 1TB SSD and a 4K Blu-ray disc drive
- Targets 4K at up to 120fps in supported games
- Physical games can be resold, which offsets part of the higher price
At $799.99 it costs $300 more than a Series S. On a 1080p TV, or if you buy everything digitally, that money buys you very little.
Game Pass and Accessories
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $22.99 a month in the US after Microsoft cut it from $29.99 in April 2026. It gives you a large rotating library of games, online multiplayer and cloud play. If you play more than a couple of new games a year, it costs less than buying them.
Accessories get the most reliable Black Friday cuts. These are the ones worth watching:
- Xbox Wireless Controller for a second player or a spare, often among the most discounted items in the sale
- A storage expansion card for the Series S or Series X, if you’d rather not delete games. Memory costs have pushed these up too, so it is wise to wait for a sale price.
GTA 6 is also coming to PS5 on the same day. If you haven’t picked a console yet, my PS5 Black Friday deals guide covers what each PlayStation should cost on Black Friday.
FAQs on Xbox Black Friday
Will the Xbox be discounted on Black Friday 2026?
Microsoft hasn’t announced its 2026 offers. It didn’t discount its own consoles last Black Friday and has raised prices since, so expect deals on games, Game Pass and accessories, with gift cards or bundles from retailers on consoles.
How much does an Xbox cost in 2026?
Since August 1, 2026, the US list prices are $499.99 for the Series S 512GB, $599.99 for the Series S 1TB, $749.99 for the Series X Digital and $799.99 for the Series X.
Why did Xbox prices go up again?
Microsoft said console memory and storage costs have risen more than 2.5 times and expects them to double again by fall 2027. The shortage comes from AI data centers buying much of the world’s memory supply.
Should I buy a Series S or a Series X?
Buy the Series S for a 1080p or 1440p TV, a child’s console or a tight budget. Buy the Series X for a 4K TV, and the disc model only if you want physical games or 4K Blu-ray movies.
Is Game Pass Ultimate worth it?
Yes, if you play several games a year. At $22.99 a month it costs less than buying a few new games, and it includes online multiplayer.
Final Remarks
For most buyers, the Xbox Series S at list price with a retailer extra is the deal to take this Black Friday, paired with a cheap Game Pass trial. Waiting for Microsoft to cut a console price is unlikely to pay off this year, so put your patience into games and accessories instead.
If a Nintendo console is also on your list, my Nintendo Switch 2 Black Friday guide covers the bundle worth buying there.