This Xbox Accessory Costs As Much As The Xbox Itself
Procuring an Xbox Series X and its related accessories is already an expensive proposition. There's the pricey system itself, sure, but bundling it with things like an extra controller, an expansion card, and a rechargeable battery means even more money out of your pocket. Now, Microsoft has announced a new headset that will literally cost as much as the Series X.
Back in September 2020, Xbox debuted the Designed For Xbox initiative, in which the Xbox brand has partnered with multiple luxury and gaming brands, all in an effort "to enhance the user experience on Xbox by building quality consumer products from brands they love." One of those partnerships was with luxury brand Bang & Olufsen, and the two companies have created the new headset that is making waves in the Xbox community.
The new Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal Headset comes in a few different color variants: Black Anthracite, Navy Brass, and Grey Mist. The Black Anthracite headset is available for purchase today, and it will set you back an eye-watering $499 a pair. The Navy Brass and Grey Mist versions can currently be preordered, and are expected to ship in May.
The product description for the headphones says that they feature "quick-access gaming functions, rock-solid connectivity for mobile gaming, and Dolby Atmos virtualized surround sound for an immersive gaming experience."
The Beoplay Portal headset is designed to connect with Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One right out of the box. These headsets are also built with a "virtual boom arm," which uses beamforming microphones to pick up the players' voice, thereby "eliminat[ing] the need for a traditional gaming boom arm." Players will have the ability to customize the balance of game and chat audio, which should come in handy when trying to coordinate with a squad in the middle of a tense firefight. Oh, and the earcups themselves are lined with lambskin for extra comfort. So, okay, it's beginning to make a bit more sense that this thing costs $499.
Even so, Xbox fans have had mixed reactions to the announcement of these headphones. Some have balked at the price, others have excitedly purchased a pair, and more than a few frustrated gamers have remarked that they can't find a Series X in stock, and therefore have no use for a high-end headset.
Of course, for gamers who want to snag a decent headset for their Series X|S without parting with the same amount of cash they spent on their console, Microsoft has recently released a new wireless headset that only costs $100. Critics have responded positively to the more budget-friendly headset option, so maybe you can pick one of those up while you save your pennies for something in Black Anthracite?