Xbox Series X pre-orders have already sold out on Amazon, Target, Walmart, and pretty much every other major retailer. If you were hoping to grab Microsoft’s newest console before Christmas, you might have a hard time getting one without paying a premium — unless you’d like to buy an Xbox Series S instead.
Pre-orders for the Xbox Series X were supposed to open up at multiple retailers across the United States at 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, but the pre-order process quickly turned into an unmitigated disaster. The more powerful “X” version of the console sold out in less than 10 minutes. This fact that shouldn’t be all that surprising to people who saw the PS5 pre-order fiasco unfold. In fact, one Xbox executive warned gamers that it’d probably be a little chaotic this morning.
Our highest priority is always our players. As pre-orders kick-off around the world, we're hearing from our retail partners that demand is high. (1/2)
— Larry Hryb 🎮⌨️🖱☁️ 🇺🇦 (@majornelson) September 21, 2020
“Our highest priority is always our players. As pre-orders kick-off around the world, we’re hearing from our retail partners that demand is high,” said Xbox’s Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb on Twitter. “We’re doing all we can to make as many consoles available as possible and that the process is fair. Thanks for being patient!”
Worst of all, the Series X launch on Amazon didn’t exactly go to plan. As one example, the Amazon UK Xbox Series X listing has all of the next-gen Xbox stuff on one page. The US listing, however, only lists the Xbox Series X. The Xbox Series X, Xbox controllers, or the accessories for the console weren’t even available to pre-order when the page went live.
Even though Microsoft seems to have been prepared for the rush of orders, it wasn’t able to stop the absolutely insane onslaught of customers trying to get their hands on Microsoft’s next-generation console. Microsoft’s own website didn’t fare much better. It repeatedly crashed and the console eventually sold out there, too.
As retailers rapidly sold out of the console, one surprising fact emerged. The Xbox Series X sold out quicker than the Xbox Series S, despite retailers allegedly being allotted more of the former. This seems to indicate that some of the initial hype surrounding the low price of the Xbox Series S has worn off, and fans desire the more capable of the two upcoming models.
I am hearing that despite the Xbox Series X selling out everywhere with Series S stock still left, there was actually more Series X stock given to retailers.
It may be that even for those who just buy digital, they don't want the physical option locked off (which is great!)
— Ryan Brown 🎮📼 MIXTAPE V4 OUT OCT 6TH (@Toadsanime) September 22, 2020
“I am hearing that despite the Xbox Series X selling out everywhere with Series S stock still left, there was actually more Series X stock given to retailers,” said Ryan “Toadsanime” Brown on Twitter. “It may be that even for those who just buy digital, they don’t want the physical option locked off (which is great!)”
If you want a next-gen console and you don’t care about getting the absolute best experience, then the Xbox Series S may be the smart choice for you. So far, it has managed to stay in stock longer than the Series X, but even it’s selling out fairly rapidly.
