Xbox Series X/S pre-orders go live at 8am next Tuesday in UK
Participating retailers also announced.
Following the fiasco of Sony's surprise PlayStation 5 pre-order launch, Microsoft has moved to ensure potential Xbox Series S/X purchasers won't be similarly caught off-guard, announcing that retailers will taking pre-orders from 8am next Tuesday in the UK.
As revealed on Twitter, pre-orders for the £249 Series S and £449 Series X will go live at 8am, 22nd September, across participating stores. Those, should you have a retailer of preference (or should your retailer of preference run out of units, forcing you into a wild, scrambling spree elsewhere) include:
- AO.com
- Amazon
- Argos
- Currys PC World
- GAME
- John Lewis & Partners
- Microsoft Store
- ShopTo.net
- SimplyGames
- Smyths Toys
- Tesco
- Very.co.uk
Over in North America, Xbox Series S/X pre-orders go live at 11AM ET/8AM PT next Tuesday, 22nd September, via Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Gamestop, Newegg, Sam's Club, Target, Walmart, and Army and Airforce Exchange Service.
It's a mercifully more organised and consumer-friendly approach to pre-orders compared to Sony's PlayStation 5 efforts. Despite assurances back in August that it wouldn't surprise-reveal PS5 pre-orders, Sony fluffed it so much that retailers managed to open pre-orders even before last night's official announcement, leaving purchasers scrambling.
"Don't worry," the official Xbox Twitter account cheekily wrote earlier today in response, "we'll let you know the exact time pre-orders start for you soon". Microsoft hasn't yet indicated how limited stock is likely to be, but potential buyers can at least now rest easy until next Tuesday.