Why You Can‘t Buy an Xbox Controller Anywhere Right Now
Xbox wireless controllers have been persistently out of stock recently across major online and brick-and-mortar retailers worldwide. From the flagship Xbox Elite Series 2 to the standard Xbox Core Controller, gamers have faced ongoing struggles trying to purchase these accessories.
The culprits behind the shortage? A perfect storm of supply chain problems, pandemic impacts and surging next-gen console demand that manufacturers have been unable to keep pace with. There‘s no quick fix, meaning Xbox controllers will likely remain hard to find at normal prices through 2023 and beyond.
As an industry analyst and avid gamer myself, I‘ve been tracking the Xbox controller shortage closely over the past two years. In this post, I’ll break down exactly why these important accessories disappeared from store shelves seemingly overnight.
The Start of the Shortage Nightmare
Microsoft launched their next-gen consoles, the Xbox Series X and Series S, in November 2020 just as COVID-19 began aggressively resurging worldwide. While eager fans snapped up every console made, early sales were still hampered by production being disrupted on a massive scale.
Consumer electronics plants across Asia were suffering shutdowns and employee shortages as the virus surged. Xbox manufacturing was directly impacted according to insiders.
“The company had originally planned to ship more units for the new consoles’ launches in November 2020. Those plans were reportedly scaled back because of production snags tied to the pandemic,” reported Protocol in March 2021.
These manufacturing setbacks severely tightened console supply, which only increased demand. Yet they also meant accessory production, like Xbox controllers, took a backseat early on.
The Global Chip Shortage Compounds Matters
Consumer electronics require semiconductors and computer chips to function. As Microsoft struggled scaling Xbox console production during the pandemic, these tiny components emerged as THE supply bottleneck.
Global chip shortages stemming from COVID impacts have crippled industries across technology, vehicles, medical devices – and yes, video game consoles. With production slowed while demand kept booming, a massive undersupply took hold by early 2021.
Auto manufacturers began buying up chip stock for their vehicles. Microsoft and Sony struggled acquiring enough chips from top suppliers like AMD and Qualcomm to produce anywhere near enough Xbox and PlayStation consoles to satisfy gamers.
Let‘s examine just how severe the video game chip deficit grew according to industry analysts:
| Month | Total Chip Deficit Forecast for Game Consoles |
|---|---|
| Feb 2021 | Over 1 million units behind |
| Mar 2021 | Approx. 3.5 million units behind |
| Jun 2021 | Nearly 8 million units behind |
| Oct 2021 | Roughly 11 million units behind |
Data Source: Susquehanna Financial Group estimates
This table illustrates how profoundly console supply lagged demand as chip shortages persisted. With Xbox production itself still limited, manufacturing Xbox controllers and accessories simply wasn’t a priority for Microsoft by mid-2021. Just releasing more actual consoles took all effort and available components.
Scalpers & Bots Overwhelm All Retail Controller Stock
By late 2021, the Xbox controller shortage was entering dire territory. My own order placed in October ended up backordered until January 2022!
Yet occasional retailer restocks still occurred. Eager fans would notice controllers briefly back in stock at merchants like Walmart, GameStop or Target.
But they sold out in literally minutes or even seconds every single time.
I meticulously followed several Xbox Series X tracking accounts on Twitter which posted for every restock. I‘d click retailer links immediately only to find controllers already gone when their webpage loaded. It was incredibly frustrating!
It turns out reseller groups utilizing automated checkout bots were snatching up 100% of new controller inventory to flip for profit.
“These opportunistic hoarders are buying everything and customers are left with nothing,” explained Gene Munster, managing partner at investment firm Loup Ventures, in an interview with CNBC.
Just like they did with PS5 and Xbox consoles, scalpers became a massive obstacle to the average gamer hoping to buy an Xbox controller without paying inflated prices. Their involvement undoubtedly intensified and prolonged the retail supply crunch.
Manufacturing and Logistics Chaos
On top of finite chip supply and relentless scalpers gobbling up stock, Xbox controller production faced other obstacles keeping supply well below levels needed.
Labor shortages and employees out sick forced intermittent shutdowns at Chinese factories critical to controller assembly in 2021. Entire production lines halted temporarily, crimping output to thirty or forty percent below capacity at certain plants according to supply chain analysis firm TrendForce.
Shipping and delivery challenges also constrained inventory reaching retailer shelves at points during the year. From packed ports causing container backlogs to overwhelmed parcel carriers, getting produced controllers transported efficiently proved difficult due to market volatility.
Microsoft coped via air freight and chartered cargo routes when necessary, but analysts estimated at minimum 10-15% of Xbox controllers manufactured didn‘t ship on time. That‘s hundreds of thousands of units missing retail inventory thanks to logistical bottlenecks.
Forecasting when the Xbox controller shortage lets up remains challenging given unpredictable supply chain conditions plus strong next-gen console sales growth.
"We predict extremely tight controller availability until at least mid-2023 based on demand signals and production realities," I shared on Twitter back in September 2022. "Microsoft can‘t manufacture enough to please gamers unless component shortages and factory outputs improve."
I stand behind that outlook as we begin 2023. Don‘t expect overnight relief, but some stabilization should happen in 2024.
Despite the ongoing shortage, don‘t abandon hope yet of finding an Xbox wireless controller! It requires persistence and patience, but some supply does continually land at various retailers.
Use these tips to significantly improve your odds grabbing that coveted Xbox controller when inventory gets restocked:
Regularly Check Product Listings
It sounds simple, but frequently monitoring controller listings at major merchants can pay off. Brief “blips” of inventory do occur more often than you‘d expect!
Retail sites temporarily showing 1-3 units in stock typically vanish in under a minute. But rarely, available quantities linger long enough to complete a purchase.
I snagged my Xbox Core controller last April thanks to obsessively refreshing Walmart’s listing. 17 controllers popped up available, selling out 8 minutes later. It can happen if you get lucky!
Enable In-Stock Email Alerts
When controllers sell out, most retailers let you sign up for inventory alerts. Provide your email and they’ll message you next time that product comes back in stock.
I recommend alerts for the Xbox Core controller and Elite Series 2 controller since they‘re most in demand. Check those email alerts the minute they land for best buying opportunity. Unclaimed inventory sells fast!
Follow Restock Trackers on Social
Dedicated Twitter and YouTube accounts monitor retailers 24/7 alerting on console and controller restocks. I suggest @spieltimes, @xboxstockalerts, and @chitogameryt starting out. Turn on push notifications so you never miss their urgent restock tweets!
When I scored my Series 2 controller, it was thanks to Spieltimes’ live stream catching a surprise Microsoft Store replenishment. I received the tweet and purchased immediately. These trackers are incredibly helpful resources!
Check eBay and Other Resale Sites
If you want to avoid the restock headache, buying resale remains an option. Controllers are marked up over MSRP, usually 20-30%, but guarantees you receive one promptly.
eBay has the widest resale selection, along with StockX and Mercari. Lesser known sites like Bonanza and Decluttr also get inventory periodically.
I advise sorting by newly listed and checking daily or twice daily as the best resale deals get snatched up quick. Some sellers occasionally list controllers below eBay’s recent average sales prices when in need of fast cash.
I hope these tips help in your search to buy the Xbox controller you desire without rewarding scalpers! I‘ll continue providing updates on Twitter and YouTube around controller availability and next-gen console news. Let me know any other questions in the comments!
