The Xbox Series S is such a weird little box. Honestly, when Microsoft first announced it, people were skeptical. A "next-gen" console with only 4 teraflops of power and no disc drive? It sounded like a recipe for disaster. But as we sit here in 2026, looking at the wreckage of what analysts like Chris Dring are calling the "worst year on record" for Xbox hardware, the Series S is still the only reason the brand has a pulse in some regions.
It's small. It's white. It looks like a retro speaker. And yet, it has fundamentally changed how Microsoft views its entire gaming business.
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The Reality of Xbox Series S Sales in 2026
Let’s be real: the numbers are rough. According to recent estimates from VGChartz and industry trackers, the combined sales for the Xbox Series X and Series S sit at roughly 34.1 million units as of early 2026. To put that in perspective, the PlayStation 5 is breathing down the neck of 90 million units.
That's a massive gap.
But if you dig into the split, the Series S has historically punched way above its weight class. Early in the generation, Microsoft hinted that the Series S was capturing a huge chunk of new-to-Xbox players. Even though the more powerful Series X eventually took over the lead—capturing about 62% of the total sales according to 2025 data—the Series S remains the "gateway drug" for the ecosystem.
In 2025, Xbox hardware revenue plummeted by nearly 30% year-over-year. Part of that was a massive price hike in May 2025 that saw the Series X jump to $599.99 in some markets due to tariffs and inflation. When the big brother gets that expensive, the Series S becomes the only affordable way to play GTA VI when it finally drops.
Why People Are Still Buying the "S"
Price is the obvious answer, but it's deeper than that.
The Series S is the ultimate Game Pass machine. If you’re a casual gamer who just wants to play Call of Duty or Madden, why spend $600? You don’t. You grab the S, pay your subscription, and you’re done.
- Portability: It’s tiny. You can literally throw it in a backpack.
- Availability: Even when the PS5 Pro and the Switch 2 were sold out, you could almost always find a Series S on the shelf at Target.
- The "Second Console" Effect: A huge number of Series S sales come from people who already own a PS5 but want to play Halo or Forza without breaking the bank.
But there’s a catch. Developers kind of hate it.
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We've seen multiple games delayed on Xbox because of "parity" issues. Basically, Microsoft demands that games work on both the X and the S. Making a game like Baldur’s Gate 3 or Black Myth: Wukong run on the Series S is like trying to fit a V8 engine into a Prius. It’s possible, but it takes a lot of extra work.
The Global Picture
In North America, Xbox still holds a respectable market share—around 31% to 35% depending on who you ask. But in Europe and Japan? It’s a ghost town. In November 2025, Xbox sales in Europe were reportedly under 200,000 units for the month. That’s devastating.
Microsoft is clearly pivoting. They aren't obsessed with winning the "console war" anymore. They’re becoming a publisher. They’re putting Forza on the PS5. They’re leaning into the ROG Xbox Ally and other handhelds.
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Yet, the Series S remains the floor of their ecosystem. It’s the baseline. As long as the Series S exists, Microsoft has a presence in the living room that doesn't require a $2,000 PC.
What Should You Actually Do?
If you’re looking at the Xbox Series S sales trends and wondering if you should buy one today, here is the expert take:
- Check your TV first. If you don't have a 4K 120Hz display, the Series X is overkill. The Series S looks great on a standard 1080p or 1440p monitor.
- Look for the 1TB model. The original 512GB model is a trap. With games like Call of Duty taking up 200GB, you’ll be out of space in twenty minutes.
- Wait for the sales. Since hardware revenue is down, retailers are getting aggressive. You can often find a Series S bundled with three months of Game Pass for under $250 if you keep an eye on sites like Slickdeals.
- Think about the future. We are approaching the end of this console cycle. Microsoft is already talking about "the next generation." If you want a "forever" console, wait. If you want a cheap way to play games right now, the S is your best bet.
The "death" of Xbox hardware is a popular headline, but the reality is more of a transformation. The Series S might not be a sales juggernaut compared to the PS5, but it’s the anchor keeping Microsoft’s hardware dreams from drifting away entirely.
If you're hunting for a deal, look specifically for the Certified Refurbished units on the Microsoft Store; they often go for as low as $199 and come with a full warranty. That's the smartest way to enter the ecosystem in 2026.