Xbox Series X Bundle for Just $10 More — Is Best Buy's Limited-Time Deal Worth It?

Xbox Series X Pricing Controversy: How Many Gamers Has the $649 Price Tag Turned Away?

Since last October, the Xbox Series X has held firm at a steep $649 price point, putting off countless potential buyers. For a console well into the latter half of its lifecycle, this price is a tough sell — especially when Sony keeps rolling out PS5 promotions.

It's worth remembering that the Xbox Series X launched in November 2020 at $499, debuting alongside the PS5. However, the combined impact of a global chip shortage, supply chain disruptions, and persistent inflation led Microsoft to raise the Xbox Series X price to $599 in 2023, later pushing it further to the $649 range in certain markets. This price hike sparked widespread debate in the console market because it broke a longstanding industry tradition: consoles are supposed to get cheaper as their lifecycle progresses. Typically, a console should enter a price-decline phase 3 to 4 years after launch — not move in the opposite direction.

Microsoft's conservative pricing strategy has made the Xbox Series X one of the worst value propositions on the market. Numerous tech outlets and gaming communities have said it's hard to recommend this console at its current price.

Best Buy Launches a Forza Horizon 6 Themed Bundle

The good news is that Best Buy has listed a fairly attractive deal — an Xbox Series X bundle themed around Forza Horizon 6, priced at just $10 more than the standard console, coming in at around $659.

The Forza Horizon series, developed by Playground Games, is one of Microsoft's most commercially valuable first-party IPs. The franchise centers on open-world sandbox racing, and each installment is renowned for its highly accurate vehicle physics simulation and stunning visuals. When Forza Horizon 5 launched in 2021, it set an Xbox record for the highest launch player count, with over 10 million players in its first week. As the centerpiece of this bundle, Forza Horizon 6 — if it maintains the series' standard — would typically retail for $60 to $70 on its own. That makes the $10 bundle premium look incredibly appealing on paper.

This means players only need to spend a minimal amount extra to get:

• The Xbox Series X console itself
• A Forza Horizon 6 themed custom design
• The game or related content

For anyone already planning to buy an Xbox Series X, this is essentially a free AAA racing title and a limited-edition design thrown in — outstanding value by any measure.

Buying Advice: Who Is This Xbox Bundle For?

Players Who Should Consider Buying

If any of the following applies to you, this Xbox Series X bundle is worth serious consideration:

• You've been waiting for an Xbox Series X price drop but haven't found the right moment
• You're a racing game enthusiast interested in the Forza Horizon series
• You enjoy collecting limited-edition consoles

Factors That Still Warrant Caution

Despite the added value of this bundle, the $649 base price remains high. Given Microsoft's aggressive push toward its Game Pass cloud gaming strategy and persistent rumors about next-gen hardware, there are several factors to weigh before buying an Xbox Series X right now:

1. Game Pass Subscription Value: Xbox Game Pass, launched by Microsoft in 2017, is widely regarded as the company's core strategic weapon against Sony's PlayStation ecosystem. The service offers unlimited access to hundreds of games, with monthly fees ranging from about $14.99 to $19.99 (Ultimate tier). Microsoft positions Game Pass as the "Netflix of gaming," using subscription revenue to offset thinner hardware margins. The cloud gaming (xCloud) feature even lets users stream Game Pass titles directly on phones, tablets, or browsers without owning a console — objectively weakening the case for buying physical hardware and creating Microsoft's unique "hardware optional, service essential" business model. If you're already a Game Pass subscriber, the console becomes more attractive since a massive library of games is ready to play out of the box.

2. Exclusive Games Situation: Most titles from Microsoft's first-party studios launch simultaneously on PC, making "buying a console for exclusives" a weak argument. This cross-platform strategy further erodes the exclusive value of the console hardware, rendering the traditional "buy a console for exclusive games" purchasing logic nearly moot in the Xbox ecosystem.

3. Console Generation Cycle: Traditional console generations last roughly 6 to 7 years. The Xbox Series X launched in 2020, which means the next generation — tentatively referred to in the industry as "Xbox Series X2" or "Xbox Next" — is expected to arrive around 2026 to 2027. Microsoft has publicly confirmed it's developing next-gen hardware and has committed to maintaining backward compatibility as a core feature. This means buyers who pick up an Xbox Series X now may only have a "golden window" of 2 to 3 years of use, so you'll need to accept a relatively short lifespan for your purchase.

Conclusion: The Best Xbox Series X Deal in Recent Memory

This Best Buy Forza Horizon 6 bundle is a rare "more for (almost) the same price" promotion for the Xbox Series X. While it doesn't fundamentally solve the console's overpricing problem, for those who've already decided to buy, spending just $10 more for a full game and a limited-edition design makes this the best Xbox Series X deal currently available.

If you've been watching Xbox Series X price trends from the sidelines, this bundle might just be the signal you've been waiting for.

Key Takeaways

• The Xbox Series X has been stuck at $649 since last October — roughly 30% more than its 2020 launch price — earning low recommendation scores across the board
• Best Buy is offering a Forza Horizon 6 themed bundle for just $10 over the standard price
• The bundle includes a limited-edition themed console and game content; considering the Horizon series typically retails at $60–70, the value proposition is significantly improved
• Despite the promotion, the $649 base price remains the primary barrier to purchase
• Given the approaching generational transition (estimated 2026–2027) and Game Pass's cross-platform strategy, buyers should still weigh their options carefully