Xbox Urges Owners to Trade in Unused Consoles as Stock Shortages Bite

Xbox is emailing customers to remind them they can trade in their Series X and S consoles if the devices have been gathering dust. The email was reportedly sent to customers in the U.S. who haven't used their console in a while.

Over the past year, console prices have soared due to the 'RAMpocalypse' triggered by generative AI companies like OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and Microsoft itself, which have been hoarding components. As these AI firms compete for dominance and stockpile RAM, prices for end users have skyrocketed, and hardware has become harder than ever to find.

For instance, Valve's Steam Frame VR headset was initially slated to launch at $750, but due to the crisis created by AI companies, it ended up costing over $1,000. Meanwhile, Nvidia graphics cards are far more expensive than they used to be.

These price hikes and shortages come at the worst possible time for both Sony and Microsoft, with the November launch of GTA 6 expected to spark a surge of interest in all things gaming. Since the game launches on console only, Rockstar's epic is sure to drive a dramatic rise in PS5 and Xbox Series X and S sales. The only question is whether Sony and Microsoft can meet demand.

With this in mind, it's easy to see why Xbox would want people to hand over dormant consoles to new players. Here's what the email, verified by Windows Central, says:

"Haven't played on your console in a while? If you've moved on to Xbox on PC or another way to play Xbox games, it may be time to trade in your console to Best Buy."

This initiative was actually announced in June, when Microsoft said these consoles would be refurbished and resold at lower prices to make machines more readily available for customers. "We are working with retail partners on new programs to provide previously played consoles at lower prices," Microsoft said at the time. "Players who are ready to upgrade or no longer use their console will be able to trade it in with participating retail partners for cash or store credit. Those consoles will then be made available at lower prices for players."

The console hardware situation looks like it will get worse before it gets better. RAM manufacturers have reportedly already sold out their allocated memory capacity for 2027. The highest-end GPUs are nearly impossible to get hold of unless you're willing to pay exorbitant amounts to a third-party seller.