Published 28 October 2026
If you were hoping to swap your Xbox Series X or Series S for something new in the next year or two, the latest reports suggest a longer wait. At the same time, Microsoft is asking some owners to hand their consoles back, and new Series X|S consoles cost far more in the UK than they did a few months ago. Here is what has been reported, and what it means if you plan to keep your current console going.
What has been reported
Next Xbox reportedly aimed at late 2028. On 20 October 2026, Fortune published a profile of Xbox chief executive Asha Sharma which reported that Microsoft is targeting the 2028 holiday season for its next home console, known as Project Helix, with a next-generation handheld planned for the 2027 holiday season. The report also said internal projections put the console's price at between $1,200 and $1,800 unless Microsoft subsidises it. Video Games Chronicle and GamesRadar+ covered the report the same day. Microsoft has not announced a release date or price, so treat these as reported plans rather than confirmed facts.
Trade-in emails to inactive owners. TechSpot reported on 23 October that Microsoft has been emailing some Series X|S owners who have stopped playing, suggesting they trade their consoles in at the US retailer Best Buy. The offer is American, but the reason behind it matters here too: according to TechSpot, Microsoft said it wants older consoles back so they can be refurbished and resold at lower prices.
UK prices are already much higher. From 1 August 2026, Microsoft raised UK prices across the range, blaming a components crisis in which console storage and memory costs have risen more than 2.5 times. Video Games Chronicle reported the new recommended prices: £429.99 for the 512GB Series S (previously £299.99) and £669.99 for the Series X with a disc drive (previously £499.99).
What this means for UK Xbox owners
Put together, these reports point the same way. A new Series X|S is now an expensive purchase, the successor may be two years away and could cost a great deal more, and Microsoft itself values used consoles enough to ask for them back. For most people, the console already under the TV is worth looking after.
The Series X launched in November 2020, so the earliest consoles are now around six years old. That is the age at which wear starts to show: dust builds up in the cooling path, HDMI ports have been plugged and unplugged hundreds of times, and disc drives have done years of spinning. None of that means the console is finished. Most of these faults are repairable.
Signs your Series X|S needs attention
- No picture on the TV while the console seems to power on. Try another cable, HDMI input and TV first; if the problem stays with the console, the HDMI port is often damaged or loose.
- Shutting down during games, or running much louder than it used to. Make sure the vents have space around them and clean off any surface dust. If it still overheats, the inside needs cleaning and checking.
- No power at all, or a power button that lights briefly and goes off. Check the mains lead and socket; beyond that it is usually the internal power supply or a board fault.
- Disc problems on the Series X: discs not being read, not ejecting, or grinding noises.
- Controller drift or sticky buttons, which can usually be fixed without buying a new pad.
Our Xbox Series X|S repair page covers these faults in more detail, and controllers are handled on our Xbox controller repair page.
Repair, sell or wait?
If your console has a fault, it is worth getting a quote before deciding anything. A working console is worth more whether you keep it or sell it, and a repair keeps you playing while the next generation takes shape. If you are thinking of selling, make sure your games and saves are synced to the cloud, sign out of your account and do a full reset first. If you would rather wait for whatever Microsoft releases next, keeping the vents clear and the console on a hard, open surface is the simplest way to help it last.
We repair every generation of Xbox, from the 360 to the Series X|S. See our Xbox repair services for older models too.
Bring it in
Creative IT Console Repairs is at 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY. Walk in Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm, with no appointment needed, or call 020 7237 6805. We agree the price with you before any work starts, and repairs come with a 90-day warranty. Get in touch if you have questions first.