Additional Coverage:
- Costco just confirmed it has dropped a fan-favorite product line in surprising move (marketrealist.com)
Gamers, Brace Yourselves: Costco Pulls the Plug on Xbox Consoles
Issaquah, WA – In a move that’s sure to leave many gamers hitting the “uninstall” button on their hopes, Costco has reportedly discontinued carrying Xbox consoles in its warehouses, both in the United States and the United Kingdom. While the retail giant is known for its sometimes-mysterious product rotations, this particular removal seems to be more than just a seasonal shuffle.
Costco, a haven for bulk-buying members who appreciate value across a vast array of products, typically operates on a model that prioritizes affordability. So, when a popular item vanishes, it often raises eyebrows. This time, the vanishing act involves Microsoft’s iconic gaming console.
The news, initially reported by The Street, suggests that Xbox consoles are no longer available in Costco’s physical stores. Confirmation of this decision, however, came not from an official press release, but through direct inquiry.
According to a report from CGM, former IGN employee and current YouTuber Destin Legarie contacted Costco directly. A representative reportedly told Legarie, “We don’t have any plans going forward to carry an Xbox console,” further describing the decision as a “business decision.”
Adding weight to these reports, Michael Hoglund of Windows Central shared his own experience, noting that searches for “Xbox” on both the U.S. and U.K. Costco websites yielded no results.
“When I checked for myself on the U.S. side, I was greeted with ‘We’re sorry. We were not able to find a match.’
Welp, that sucks,” Hoglund wrote, expressing a sentiment likely shared by many.
One significant factor potentially contributing to this strategic shift is the recent price hike for Xbox consoles. Windows Central’s report highlights that Microsoft increased the price of Xbox consoles to a hefty $649.99 in October. For a retailer like Costco, whose business model relies on attracting members with competitive pricing, a product at such a premium might no longer align with its core strategy.
While Costco’s membership revenue allows it to occasionally absorb losses on certain items to entice shoppers, it appears the Xbox console, at its current price point, no longer fits that bill. With strong competition in the gaming console market, the retailer may have deemed the investment in stocking such high-priced units less viable for its customer base.
For now, it seems gamers looking to snag an Xbox at their local Costco will have to look elsewhere.