It’s been a big couple of days for Xbox lately. First, the Xbox Series S was finally revealed, with a decent price to boot! If you’re in the US of A, the console will set you back $299, while locally it can be had for R6,999. What of the big brother console though? The big booty daddy Xbox Series X? That’s going to cost you a bit more: An entire $599 to be exact. There’s also an official release date: November 10.
Locally, you can expect to pay R11,999 for the onsole, with pre-orders kicking off on September 22:
But wait, there’s more! For Xbox Game Pass subscribers, there’s going to be a big bonus soon: EA Play will also be added to the service, for free. Yes, free. Here’s the announcement from Microsoft on that:
Today, we’re excited to announce the next step in this journey. We are teaming up with Electronic Arts to provide Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC members with an EA Play membership at no additional cost starting this holiday. This means Ultimate members can enjoy EA Play on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and Windows 10 PCs, and Xbox Game Pass for PC members get EA Play on Windows 10.
Formerly known as EA Access and Origin Access, EA Play will bring the best of EA to Game Pass, including:
- More than 60 of EA’s biggest and best console and PC games like FIFA 20, Titanfall 2 and Need for Speed Heat, as well as titles from some of EA’s most popular franchises like Battlefield, Mass Effect, Skate, and The Sims.
- Exclusive in-game challenges and rewards, special member-only content, discounts on EA digital purchases for DLC, games, and more.
- Access to trials of games for up to 10 hours from best-loved franchises and top titles like Madden NFL 21 and FIFA 21.
- Not only will EA Play titles be available on console and PC, this holiday, some of the best EA Play games will also be available for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play on Android devices via the cloud at no additional charge.
Last Updated: September 9, 2020
Son of Banana Jim
September 9, 2020 at 16:20
For those who say, I always shit on Microsoft. For the record, $499 is a good price. For those interested, that’s about R8322.88 (excluding shipping etc.). It is an incredibly competitive price. I wonder if SONY will take the bait or just go with $599 (as expected).
Seeker
September 9, 2020 at 16:39
I see this article was updated with SA price now. We truly being ripped off in SA with this prices. 12K for the Series X?
Guess I’ll be importing my consoles then.
MechMachine
September 9, 2020 at 15:22
That is very competitive. Well done Microsoft.
MechMachine
September 9, 2020 at 15:22
Wait, in the body it says 599 and the Tweet is says 499, I take it it’s a typo ?
Seeker
September 9, 2020 at 15:53
My goodness. Bundling EA Play with Gamepass is the best news so far.
Now MS just need to announce All Access in SA.
Son of Banana Jim
September 9, 2020 at 16:20
Bundling the two is an excellent idea (especially when it comes without an increase in the cost for Gamepass). The less subscriptions you have to pay for… the better.
Kenn Gibson
September 9, 2020 at 18:21
Gamepass ultimate is now Xbox Live, Gamepass and EA Play for R149 per month. I want a PS5, but damn you Microsoft…..
Son of Banana Jim
September 9, 2020 at 18:41
If only the prices were more attuned to South African wallets. I would have smiled, and said “Kenn, you can have both”. But now we have to choose…. :/
Sigh!
Son of Banana Jim
September 9, 2020 at 16:19
So basically the Series X will be either just over or under R10 000 locally, if you consider that the $299 version hits us at a high R6999 (- I know, I know, some of you consider that a bargain). By the way, it seems if I want I could theoretically import the Series S for roughly R5300 (excluding import duties, but inclusive of shipping). That’s basically the quote I just got 😛 Maybe, I should think of starting an import-export business…
– interesting….
HvR
September 9, 2020 at 16:39
Import duty and ad volarem tax = R1000
VAT = R900
Your price = R7200 + handling/clearance fee
HvR
September 9, 2020 at 16:39
Import duty and ad volarem tax = R1000
VAT = R900
Your price = R7200 + handling/clearance fee
Son of Banana Jim
September 9, 2020 at 17:21
Why do I get the feeling, we’re going to see a rise in dodgy console smuggling in the next few years. I mean, it’s not like South Africans were phased while tens of thousands of cartons upon cartons of cigarettes were smuggled over the Zim border during the lockdown…. Hahahahah!
https://media0.giphy.com/media/m2IC1y12jj4qc/giphy.gif
Son of Banana Jim
September 9, 2020 at 16:20
For those who say, I always shit on Microsoft. For the record, $499 is a good price. For those interested, that’s about R8322.88 (excluding shipping etc.). It is an incredibly competitive price. I wonder if SONY will take the bait or just go with $599 (as expected).
Larry
September 9, 2020 at 16:49
“aS ExPEcteD”
Son of Banana Jim
September 9, 2020 at 17:01
As expected….
Seeker
September 9, 2020 at 16:39
I see this article was updated with SA price now. We truly being ripped off in SA with this prices. 12K for the Series X?
Guess I’ll be importing my consoles then.
HvR
September 9, 2020 at 16:39
I just laid it out for Banana below, remember consoles got added to the ad volarem tax list last year. So duties double to 20% and then you need to add 15% VAT on top of that
HvR
September 9, 2020 at 16:39
I just laid it out for Banana below, remember consoles got added to the ad volarem tax list last year. So duties double to 20% and then you need to add 15% VAT on top of that
Son of Banana Jim
September 9, 2020 at 17:01
Update: lol, Xbox Series X: R11 999 (RRP)…. Yeah, no thanks.