Have you been trying to get your hands on the Xbox Series X with no luck?
You’re not alone.
Many gamers are also finding it next to impossible to buy the Xbox Series X online or in stores.
This shortage of the Xbox Series X has led people to speculate and ask…
Is the Xbox Series X discounted? No, the Xbox Series X has not been discounted, and it is unlikely that the production of Microsoft’s next-gen console will stop any time soon. Like the Xbox One X and Xbox One S All Digital Edition, which have been discontinued, the Xbox Series X is likely to be sold for 3-6 years then probably phased out when a newer Xbox console is released.
Now that you know the production of the Xbox Series X hasn’t stopped, read on to understand why the next-gen console is in short supply, and get tips on how you can snag yourself one of these hard-to-find next-gen consoles.
Why is there a shortage of Xbox Series X?
When a new console is released, it is expected that it will be scarce because everyone is eager to buy it.
But over time, demand decreases, and supply goes up, and you can easily go online or walk into a store and buy the console.
However, this hasn’t happened with the Xbox Series X.
Despite being on the market for a while, the console is still suffering major stock shortages.
Several factors are contributing to the short supply of the Xbox Series X. Here are a few of them:
The worldwide semiconductor shortage
This is the biggest reason why you can’t find an Xbox Series X or a PS5 to buy.
Semiconductor materials are integral in the manufacture of not only the Xbox Series X but also in the production of microchips used in your car, mobile phone, washing machine, computer, etc.
Currently, there is a severe global shortage of semiconductors and materials which was caused by many semiconductor factories shutting down or reducing their production capacity for several months in 2020 due to Covid-19.
I know what you’re thinking, businesses are opening up now, why don’t the factories double their capacity or do something to meet demand.
Some have, but the demand for semiconductors is too high, and it will be some time before they’re able to regularise the situation.
Some news agencies have reported it could take up to 2023 before this shortage is sorted out.
If that’s the case, many games will continue with the wild goose chase to get an Xbox Series X for a long time.
Disruption in the supply chain
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the movement of raw materials and products has experienced a lot of bottlenecks.
For example, when countries were on lockdown global shipping was almost at a standstill.
This problem in the supply chain explains why the production of Xbox Series X is taking longer and why your local game store is taking more time to restock the next-gen consoles.
Scalpers
In your efforts to get yourself an Xbox Series X, you have probably come across several being sold at far higher prices than the recommended retail price of $499 on websites like eBay.
The person selling the console could be a scalper.
Scalpers buy huge numbers of in-demand products then sell them to other consumers at a higher price.
These guys are part of the reason there is a shortage of the Xbox Series X.
In the UK, an infamous group of scalpers known as CrepChefNotify tried buying 1,000 Xbox Series X consoles from British online retailer Very.
Luckily the retailer managed to stop the sale before it went through.
Unless you’re willing to spend two or three times more than what you would pay to get an Xbox Series X, you should avoid scalpers.
Also, in my opinion, it doesn’t make sense to pay for an overpriced console that doesn’t yet have a wide library of games.
For more detailed information on why the Xbox Series X and S are out of stock, read an article we did on the issue here.
What can you do to get yourself an Xbox Series X faster?
When various retailers restock the Xbox Series X, these units are usually sold out within a few minutes.
Tired of always missing out every time there was an Xbox Series X resupply, I adopted some strategies that eventually got me the next-gen console.
Below I share with you some of the things I did to get an Xbox Series X.
Track Xbox Series X restocks on Twitter
Several Twitter accounts can give you up-to-the-minute updates on Xbox Series X restocks.
These accounts will tell you when and where Series X stock will be available, which is invaluable information because as you hunt for the Xbox Series X, every lead counts.
I recommend you follow Xbox Series X|S Stock Alerts and @Wario64 for the latest on the next-gen console supply and deals.
I was actually able to get the Xbox Series X from Amazon after seeing a restock tweet from this Twitter handle.
While the major Xbox Series X retailers don’t always announce when they restock the console, following them on Twitter and their other social media handles is a good idea.
While scrolling through their pages you might come across an opportunity to score an Xbox Series X.
Use PopFindr
PopFindr is a website that you can use to check Xbox Series X inventory at your local Best Buy, Target, GameStop, etc.
I regularly used it to check if my local GameStop had any Xbox Series X available.
Note, however, that you could see the Xbox Series X in stock online but find it out of stock when you get to the store because of how fast the consoles are flying off the shelves.
If you want to better your chances of buying the Xbox Series X, when you find a store that has the console, don’t wait, dash out immediately to get it.
Check shopping forums
You can get a lot of intel on the restocking of the Xbox Series X from forums like Slickdeals and CheapAssGamer.
Both these sites have an ongoing forum thread where gamers discuss which stores have replenished their stock of the Xbox Series X.
I created an account on Slickdeals to be alerted when a new thread was made about the Xbox Series X supply.
This helped a great deal in my search for Series X.
Check the major Xbox retailer websites at specific hours
Retailers have specific hours and days when they alert customers on deals and restocking of various products.
Some do it at midnight ET, others at 7 a.m when customers are waking up, and others at noon, so everybody has a good chance of getting a product.
So check the websites of the various Xbox Series X retailers like Costco, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, etc., in the US, and Argos, Currys, GAME, and Very in the UK, at these times if you don’t have the time to regularly refresh their websites to see if they have consoles in stock.