After a weekend of speculative social media posts, Microsoft is denying reports that Target, Walmart, and other big-name American retailers have removed Xbox consoles, games, and peripherals from shelves. In a statement shared with Windows Central, the tech giant said that “Target and Walmart, among other retailers, remain committed partners for Xbox consoles, accessories, and games.” Microsoft’s statement comes just days after images of empty shelves and deconstructed Xbox displays made waves on social media.
How’d this even start?
In a Reddit post on Saturday, user /u/CodeE1985 said their “local Target is getting rid of their entire Xbox section. The electronics manager says they will No longer carry systems, games , or accessories.” The user continued: “He also said all Targets in the Kansas City area are purging their Xbox stock as well.” Other users took to the replies, corroborating the poster’s experience. As the industry collectively shifts away from physical media in favor of subscription-based digital offerings — with Xbox leading the charge — players feared the tenured home console was next on the chopping block. Concerned fan posts, shared en masse to gaming subreddits like /r/Xbox, included users’ photographs of barren store shelves, wiped-out Xbox peripherals, and disassembled branded displays.
Xbox parent company Microsoft has since said that many retailers are still “committed” to carrying consoles and peripherals, but Costco’s recent decision to discontinue Xbox sales fueled fears. In a September 22 ResetEra post, one user claimed that “searches for ‘Xbox’ on Costco.com are currently resulting in the following message: ‘We’re sorry. We were not able to find a match.’” The poster clarified that “[s]earches for ‘PlayStation’ and ‘Nintendo’ bring up results as normal.”
Following fan furor, former IGN employee Destin Legarie reached out to Costco for clarification. Legarie later shared call details with their X followers. “Just called Costco about Xbox stock. I was told that they will no longer be carrying Xbox consoles. ‘We don’t have any plans going forward to carry an Xbox console.’ Saying. It was a business decision. They did say they have some great deals on Switch & PlayStation, though.”
Xbox Price Hikes
I can appreciate a good scare, especially this close to Halloween, but recent Xbox pricing announcements are wearing thin. The brand has increased prices for its Xbox hardware twice in 2025. The first adjustment came in May, bumping Xbox Series X prices from $499 to $599. The Xbox Series S device jumped from $299 to around $379.
The second increase, announced on September 19, inflated Xbox Series S prices from $379 to about $450. The Xbox Series X price grew from $599 to around $650. Game prices have also increased from $69.99 to $79.99.
On September 25, the brand announced retail values for its collaborative ASUS handhelds, which launch on October 16. The more affordable ROG Xbox Ally will sell for $600. The premium ROG Ally X will retail for $1,000. The lower-end option is about $150 more than the Nintendo Switch 2, and $100 more than the Xbox Series X sold for during its 2020 launch.
On October 1, Xbox raised the price of its Ultimate Game Pass subscription from $19.99 to $29.99, a move that resulted in enough subscriber cancellations to crash the website.
Why does this matter?
As American consumers tackle tariff-related price increases, especially within tech circles, many are trimming entertainment budgets or otherwise superfluous spending. Since the start of the year, Generation Z (persons aged 18 to 24) has ditched unnecessary expenses at an unprecedented rate.
Tariffs aren’t the sole cause of price hikes, however. Tech conglomerates like Microsoft are laying off hundreds of human employees and instead investing billions in generative artificial intelligence. The brands’ pursuit of perpetual growth is a pipe dream, but as billion- and even trillion-dollar tech titans flock to a moving goalpost like moths to a flame, it’s the lower-level employees who get left in the wake.
Did you cancel Xbox Game Pass? Let us know in the comments.
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