[ad_1]
In our Xbox Series X review, We commend Microsoft’s new flagship game console for its power, sleek design, and long-term potential. And around six weeks later we’re still impressed by the $ 499 machine (£ 449 in the UK), given that it offers 4K gaming at around a third the price of an equivalent gaming PC.
In fact, with 12 teraflops of graphics power and a fast 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, the Xbox Series X packs plenty of next-gen tech for its fair price. But before you go ahead and declare it a bargain, there’s a catch.
Not only is it very hard to find where to buy an Xbox Seires X, but $ 499 is also the minimum of what you will have to part with. This is because to get the most out of the Microsoft machine you need to spend a little more. So here is what we consider to be the true cost of the Xbox Series X.
SSD upgrade: $ 219 / £ 219
Once your Xbox Series X is up and running, you will notice that only 802GB of storage space remains. That’s because the console requires 198GB for its operating system. Now the X Series has more usable space than the PS5. But with modern games that weigh between 30GB and 100GB, and sometimes longer, those 802GB will fill up pretty quickly, which means you’ll need a storage upgrade.
Enter the Xbox Series X proprietary 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD expansion card. Made by Seagate, the external SSD is clean and easy to install, but costs $ 219 / £ 219. That’s a hefty amount for additional storage, but it’s the only way you’ll be able to upgrade your SSD space for Xbox Series X games. You can store next-gen games on cheaper external hard drives, but you’ll only be able to run older Xbox games directly from that storage. That makes the expansion card an almost essential upgrade.
Replacement Xbox Wireless Controller: $ 59 / £ 54
The new Xbox Wireless Controller is quite a lovely gamepad, offering a neat improvement over its predecessor. And that makes it one of our favorite controllers once again. But the Xbox Series X only comes with one controller in the box, so if you want to enjoy split-screen cooperative Halo, you’ll need another.
That will cost you an additional $ 59 / £ 54, which is not unreasonable for such a good controller. But it all adds up to the general price of Xbox Series X; at least you can choose between blue, black or white. Please note that older Xbox Wireless Controllers can be paired with the X Series, so if you are coming from the Xbox One, you could avoid this additional expense.
Xbox rechargeable battery: $ 24. / £ 19
One of the only real downsides to the Xbox Wireless Controller is that it still uses AA batteries to power it instead of a rechargeable cell. Chemical batteries aren’t particularly fancy to use, they’re not exactly good for the environment, and they can be quite expensive, as after a few long gaming sessions they will run out of power. So to avoid that inconvenience, you will need the Xbox rechargeable battery.
That means splitting the $ 24 / £ 19 if you want to have a controller with a rechargeable battery pack. It will save you money in the long run, but it’s a bit disappointing that Microsoft hasn’t put a rechargeable battery in the new Xbox Wireless Controller by default.
Xbox Game Pass: $ 100 / £ 96
Xbox Game Pass gives you access to over 100 Xbox games, from modern Xbox One titles to original Xbox classics. And now it offers access to a suite of Electronic Arts games by including an EA Play membership, all for a monthly fee of $ 9.99 / £ 7.99. This is one of the best bargains in games. It will get better too, as all future Xbox original games will be available on Game Pass from the day of their release. With Microsoft buying Bethesda, you can also expect a set of games from their studios to be added to the service.
Game Pass is basically the killer app for Xbox Series X and one that we consider essential. However, that means you have to set aside around $ 100 / £ 96 per year for the standard Xbox Game Pass subscription. Opt for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes PC gaming and streaming games to Android phones, and you should part with $ 14.99 / £ 10.99 per month; It’s an excellent bargain, but it still adds to the total cost of owning an Xbox Series X.
Next Gen Games: $ 59 / £ 59
Speaking of games, just like those on the PS5, Xbox Series X games have gone up in price. Drink Assassin’s Creed ValhallaThe $ 59 price tag as an example.
While it’s a cross-platform game, it does have some next-gen graphics, as well as being pretty good. So it is a game that you will want to get for your X Series given that it is not on Game Pass yet. That means you’ll have to fork out another chunk of change for a game that can showcase the power of Microsoft’s flagship console.
The true cost of the Xbox Series X: $ 960 / £ 896
With the above in mind, getting the most out of the Xbox Series X will cost you $ 960 / £ 896. That’s quite a lot for a dedicated gaming machine, but still a bargain.
To get 4K performance equivalent to a gaming PC, you’ll need to spend about $ 1,500, although we appreciate that it gives you a much larger library of games to choose from. But compared to what we think it is the true price of the PS5, the Xbox Series X is the winner given that it is a bit cheaper with all its extras added to the mix. Although for the performance they offer, both consoles offer excellent value for money.
However, getting an Xbox Series X is very difficult at the moment. So if you can wait until 2021, you may be able to get yourself a cheap Series X bundle, and you’ll have more games to take advantage of on Game Pass, hopefully in the form of Xbox Series X exclusives. After all, 2021 seems like the year these new game consoles will come true.
