# Is the scarcity of the new gen consoles unprecedented? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** video-games-e-games\ **Created:** [March 5, 2021, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-scarcity-of-the-new-gen-consoles-unprecedented/937225 "2021-03-05T04:47:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-scarcity-of-the-new-gen-consoles-unprecedented/937225/42 "2021-05-19T14:16:01Z")
> [@stuccosuperstar2020](#): > > Sadly it appears lazy button mashing by fatsos on the couch outweighed gamers willing to put a minimum amount of effort in playing a video game I think VR has largely taken over the “flail around while video gaming” space. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-scarcity-of-the-new-gen-consoles-unprecedented/937225/43 "2021-05-19T14:21:08Z")
I’ve heard grumblings that resellers are a problem. i.e. People who purchase from Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and other stores only to turn around and sell them to consumers. Is that the case at all? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-scarcity-of-the-new-gen-consoles-unprecedented/937225/44 "2021-05-19T16:21:12Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I’ve heard grumblings that resellers are a problem. If you’re talking about scalpers, that’s one of the first things discussed in this thread. If you’re not talking about scalpers I’m curious what you mean. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-scarcity-of-the-new-gen-consoles-unprecedented/937225/45 "2021-05-19T17:22:00Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > If you’re talking about scalpers, that’s one of the first things discussed in this thread. > > If you’re not talking about scalpers I’m curious what you mean. Scalpers is what I meant. I just haven’t read the first part of the thread in so long I forgot they were mentioned there. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-scarcity-of-the-new-gen-consoles-unprecedented/937225/46 "2021-05-20T00:55:54Z")
Na, in my opinion video games are mostly about exercising the mind. If I wanted to be active I’d go for a walk/run/bike etc. not to say there’s no place for games utilising physical movement but they are, rightfully in my view, a niche market. Edit: I used to own a wii but it ultimately felt like a gimmick and I didn’t find it particularly interesting. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-scarcity-of-the-new-gen-consoles-unprecedented/937225/47 "2021-05-20T08:22:23Z")
Here’s what people are bitching about when they say scalpers this is through sears"marketplace" website Note its for the ps5 and new box [https://www.sears.com/deals/center/hot-deals.html/dealGrid?event=Trending%20Products&department=Electronics&category=Gaming&pOfferID=1056555&lid=Dynamic\_Hero\_Hybrid&rioptypeid=&emlid=15688522&ruid=77777777&sid=IOx20210519SRSHYBADHx8888888x888888888xS00TCONTBB&utm\_source=promotion&utm\_medium=email&utm\_campaign=IOx20210519SRSHYBADH&bxid=&enmem=YYBJ6NiBiK2hUaRtY1FU8BLLOq4xTOGtCH8kA%2Bq67WQ&branch=telluride](https://www.sears.com/deals/center/hot-deals.html/dealGrid?event=Trending%20Products&department=Electronics&category=Gaming&pOfferID=1056555&lid=Dynamic_Hero_Hybrid&rioptypeid=&emlid=15688522&ruid=77777777&sid=IOx20210519SRSHYBADHx8888888x888888888xS00TCONTBB&utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=IOx20210519SRSHYBADH&bxid=&enmem=YYBJ6NiBiK2hUaRtY1FU8BLLOq4xTOGtCH8kA%2Bq67WQ&branch=telluride) ---
**Author:** ![DreamsOfACheetah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/45deac/32.png) [@DreamsOfACheetah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreamsOfACheetah)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-scarcity-of-the-new-gen-consoles-unprecedented/937225/48 "2021-05-21T16:22:08Z")
My first gaming consolae was the Sears version of Pong. 🤗 I remember hearing that consoles were more expensive to make when they first come out, to the point where the company lost money on every console sold. They made up for it with the profit from games, while they worked on streamlining the console to make it cheaper to produce. Consoles eventually cost less to make, but it took a while. I also remember some consoles being built with features that didn’t wind up getting used, and they eventually got taken out. Also seem to remember reading articles about how Nintendo’s new system (I think N64?) was the first one to not cost more to build than it sold for, so they were making a lot of money right out of the gate. Don’t know too much about the more modern systems, but would be surprised if this has changed in recent years. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-scarcity-of-the-new-gen-consoles-unprecedented/937225/49 "2021-05-22T10:28:41Z")
I don’t know about Sony but Microsoft still sell Xboxes at a loss. They make plenty of money from game sales though. > A Microsoft executive has admitted that the company doesn’t earn any profit on sales of Xbox consoles alone. The admission came as part of the _Epic v. Apple_ trial yesterday, confirming what we’ve known for years: Microsoft sells Xbox consoles at a loss. Asked how much margin Microsoft makes on Xbox consoles, the company’s head of Xbox business development, Lori Wright, said, “We don’t; we sell the consoles at a loss.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-scarcity-of-the-new-gen-consoles-unprecedented/937225.md?page=2)