Despite the fact that the Xbox Series X has been on the market for almost six months, it's still rather hard to find the console in retail stores. There was an expectation when the Xbox Series X/S first launched that there would be shortages. However, there was also a hope that eventually, the stock would replenish, and it wouldn't still be a race in order to get one. The same can be said for the PlayStation 5. Both devices are still so rare that people are constantly scanning through social media and checking out various retail sites in hopes of timing it just right. Why this is still an issue months after launch is due to several factors.
The biggest reason it's still so hard to find an Xbox Series X is that it's simply popular. A very good ad campaign, paired with a console that is truly powerful and offers the ability to do things no console before it could do, is always going to be popular. When consoles first launch, there's also a bit of a backlog. As a general rule though, it's about this time of year when that backlog is sorted out and shoppers are usually able to even go into a brick-and-mortar store and get their hands on a console. So why isn't that the case with the Series X? When it launched likely has a great deal to do with it.
The Pandemic
The Xbox Series X came along during a year that shut most of the world down because of the Covid-19 pandemic. While there was some talk early in 2020 that both Microsoft and Sony would delay the launch of their consoles, in the end, each went ahead with launch. Going ahead with a 2020 launch led to a shortage of components across the tech industry. While Sony and Microsoft initially said there would be more than enough for launch, the pandemic has affected the components needed to make enough consoles to meet demand. In November, Microsoft said it expected Xbox Series X shortages to last until the first part of 2021 at least.
Any hopes that the shortages would indeed come to an end at the beginning of this year have since been dashed. In February, Microsoft extended its first estimation; the company said the Xbox Series X shortages could last another six months. That would mean it may be until August at the earliest before the company expects supply to meet demand.
Console Scalpers and Re-Sellers
When component parts aren't the problem, scalpers are. It's still not entirely clear how these scalpers are able to do it, but more than one government has talked about them getting their hands on the Xbox Series X/S and PS5 consoles before the general public. These scalpers, who are thought to set up a ring of people get the consoles early, don't just get one or two. They're apparently able to get dozens through the use of bots and scripts to manipulate and purchase in bulk from online stores.
Those scalpers are said to have made it such a problem to get the Xbox Series X for the general public that the UK government has looked at passing legislation to outlaw them. For now, their rather shady way of getting access before anyone else, paired with component shortages has still made it quite hard, without a spot of luck to get any of the new consoles.
The Xbox Series X/S is available now.