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Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller: Hard to come by at the moment
Photo: Microsoft
"Sold out", "currently not available", "unfortunately no delivery possible": If you search the Internet for Microsoft's latest Xbox gamepad, you will often come across such references.
Hardly any German retailer has the standard version of the Xbox Wireless Controller in stock.
Even Microsoft's own online store is empty.
If you do find offers online, they are often imports from abroad or less attractive options for paying significantly more than the usual 60 to 70 euros for the controller.
In some cases more than 120 euros are required for the gamepad.
For classification: Microsoft's current entry-level console Xbox Series S currently costs around 250 euros, including a brand new controller.
According to the online magazine Videogameschronicle.com, this is a supply problem that is affecting various countries in Europe.
A Microsoft spokesman said: "We know that it can be difficult to find Xbox wireless controllers at the moment due to supply shortages." The company is working with its manufacturing and retail partners to improve the situation, the spokesman said: »Please check with your local dealer for availability.«
Playstation gamepads were also rare
It remains unclear when the acute shortage will end and the prices for the gamepads will normalize again.
As an alternative to the Microsoft original, many retailers still have controllers from third-party manufacturers that are suitable for the Xbox consoles.
A professional version of its gamepad developed by Microsoft, the so-called Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, is also usually available. It currently costs around 140 euros.
Sony also had problems with its controller supply before Microsoft.
The Playstation manufacturer's DualShock 4, the gamepad for the Playstation 4, was affected last fall.
According to SPIEGEL information, the scarcity at the time was primarily explained by the tense global situation on the components market and in the international supply chains, which made it difficult for companies to bring products produced in the Far East to the Western markets.
Playstation 4 gamepads are now available again at normal prices.
Sony's and Microsoft's top consoles Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X, which normally cost 400 to 500 euros depending on the model, are still difficult to get, but can always be made available or pre-ordered in the course of isolated offers.
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