The Xbox Series X and S are both out now, but both consoles are still surprisingly tricky to actually buy. We’re keeping tabs on all the retailers offering the devices and will keep you updated as soon as stock is re-introduced.
Pre-orders sold out across the board almost instantly, and so did the day one launch stock – so here are all the stores to keep checking for when more stock comes in.
Read our Xbox Series X review if you want to know what we think, or read on for where to buy one.
How much do the Xbox Series X & Series S cost?
The Xbox Series X costs £449/US$499. This is the same price as the previous-gen Xbox One X, and the same price as the PS5.
The more affordable Xbox Series S, which is 60% smaller than the Series X costs £249/$299.
Where to buy the Xbox Series X/S
Xbox Series X/S launch stock goes quickly. While Series X stock remains elusive, customers can register for a chance to buy the Series X from Box. The retailer has confirmed it has stock, which it will start selling in the final week of March.
Meanwhile, the BT Shop is running a contest that will award the lucky winner a free Series X or PS5. You can enter by correctly answering a daily question here.
Getting hold of Series S stock looks more promising, however.
Right now, you can buy the Series S from the BT Shop and from Box. Box is also offering bundles that include an extra wireless controller (£299) or a 3-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (for £279.99).
Currys PC World also has the Xbox Series S bundle with 3 months access to Game Pass Ultimate (for £279)
Buying the Xbox Series X/S on monthly plans
If you can find it in stock, you’ll also be able to buy the consoles on a pay monthly basis via the Xbox All Access program, which bundles the system with 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for £28.99/$34.99 per month with no upfront cost. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs £10.99/$14.99 per month separately. Pick it up from Smyths or Game when stock is available.
BT also announced that its broadband and mobile customers can buy the Xbox Series X (or Series S) through their MyBT account while existing EE customers can spread the cost of the new Xbox consoles by adding it to their mobile contract.
Customers on EE can also spread the cost on the Series S with an additional wireless controller by adding it to their monthly bill. It costs £10 upfront and £30 per month for 11 months. Add the Series S to your EE plan. Customers can also register to add the Series X with an additional controller for £10 upfront and £45 per month.
Find Xbox Series X/S stock from Twitch
If you get really desperate, you can always just sit on Twitch. A new Twitch channel has been set up that simply displays the results of a script that is constantly checking Xbox and PS5 stock at a range of retailers – mostly in the US, but Amazon UK and Game are in the mix too.
UK retailers
These are the best UK retailers to check:
US retailers
Meanwhile, in the US, we’d recommend checking these retailers often:
Don’t expect it to be easy to find even then though – Xbox head Phil Spencer told the Dropped Frames podcast that stock shortages are likely to continue for “a few months.”
“We know what our supply will look like basically for the rest of the year. We’re going to have more demand than we do supply,” Spencer said.
Microsoft CFO Tim Stuart echoed those thoughts at the Jefferies Interactive Entertainment Virtual Conference. “I think we’ll continue to see supply shortages as we head into the post-holiday quarter, so Microsoft’s Q3, calendar Q1,” Stuart said.
He did at least add a prediction as to when stock will be more readily available, but the bad news is you’ll be waiting until late spring from the sounds of things.
“And then when we get to Q4, all of our supply chain continuing to go full speed heading into kind of the pre-summer months…We’ll have supply cranking over the next, what, 4, 5, 6 months. And that’s when I expect to see really that demand profile start to be met.”
Naturally, consoles are also available on eBay if you don’t mind paying a little extra and taking a risk on a dodgy deal.
For the games that are available and enhanced for the new console from day one, check out our dedicated Xbox Series X launch game list.
