A new report has gathered data to calculate the true cost of PS5 and Xbox Series X/S units, and the result is an illustration of just how ridiculous current-gen prices have become thanks to console scarcity and resale practices that are exploitative. Both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S restocks have been difficult to come by, and with so many consumers still waiting for their chance to purchase a new console, demand for the devices hasn't wavered, resulting in scalpers making thousands off of predatory markups.
For those unfamiliar with what's been happening in the gaming industry since the launch of current-gen consoles, it can largely be summed up with one word: Chaos. Xbox Series X/S and PS5 pre-order periods were tumultuous times, with the latter happening at seemingly random intervals that left fans desperately refreshing retail pages online in the hopes that they would stumble across the listings going live. Since then, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S Black Friday sales have represented the last big swath of restocks, and everything else has been scattershot. As a result, the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S resale market is booming, and scalper groups have netted thousands of consoles to resell for ridiculous markups.
All of this leads to an interesting question: What does a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S actually cost after factoring in the resale market? A report from The Verge puts together a comparison of the retail and street prices of current-gen consoles (and GPUs, which are similarly experiencing stock shortage problems). The result illustrates just how ridiculous the true cost of a PS5 and Xbox Series X/S is, with both versions of the PS5 averaging a markup of over double what it would cost at retail. Xbox Series X averages below that, but is still an over $300 markup, while Xbox Series S is the 'winner' with only a $170 average markup.
The report also mentions some other useful findings, such as the fact that retailers have been restocking less popular bundles in order to make extra. It also highlights something that may have gone underappreciated during the initial waves of pre-orders, noting that this holiday season is massive for technological innovation, with upgrades to PlayStation, Xbox, and gaming PC rigs all arriving at a similar time. The must-haves for consumers looking to keep their tech up-to-date are much greater in number than normal, especially for a holiday season period.
Ultimately, though, the main takeaway from the report is what fans who've been following retail listings in the hopes of snagging a new console have known for weeks now: The current PS5 and Xbox Series X/S cost is much, much higher than retail. The fact that it's not even safe to engage in PS5 resales or Xbox Series X/S trades is an extra grim layer on an already undesirable situation, and console shortages have made the cost of current-gen gaming unsustainable for far too many people.
Source: The Verge
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