Costco has confirmed it removed Xbox consoles from its stores and website. The wholesale giant described the move as a business decision, leaving Xbox fans wondering where they’ll get their bulk toilet paper and gaming console in one trip.
The removal appears to affect both physical warehouses and Costco’s online store. While some Xbox accessories and digital gift cards might still be available in certain locations, the actual consoles have vanished from shelves. Costco hasn’t explained whether this is permanent or just temporary.
This isn’t just happening at Costco. Reports suggest Sam’s Club has also removed Xbox listings in multiple countries including the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia. EB Games in Australia and New Zealand reportedly stopped stocking Xbox consoles too. Even retailers in Finland and Serbia claim Xbox consoles haven’t been restocked for weeks.
The timing is particularly interesting. Xbox Series X and Series S launched in November 2020, and while Microsoft doesn’t share exact sales numbers, industry estimates show PlayStation 5 has been outselling Xbox by a significant margin. Costco is known for only stocking products that sell quickly—shelf space in warehouses is precious.
In Canada, the situation looks slightly different. Costco Canada still lists some Xbox accessories online, but the consoles themselves show as sold out. Best Buy Canada reportedly only has Series S consoles and used Series X units available. Meanwhile, Costco New Zealand is apparently clearing out Xbox Series X inventory at half price.
When your console gets the wholesale treatment
For shoppers, this means fewer places to buy Xbox hardware. Costco members who enjoyed using their membership perks for gaming purchases will need to look elsewhere. The move could make finding Xbox consoles harder during busy shopping seasons or when new games launch.
Microsoft hasn’t commented on Costco’s decision. The company has been focusing more on Game Pass subscriptions and cloud gaming rather than pure hardware sales. They’ve even started releasing some exclusive games on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. Still, having a major retailer drop your console entirely sends a message about demand that’s hard to ignore.
