Is the 1 euro Xbox from Bouygues Telecom a good deal?

If you subscribe to one of its Bbox Fiber offers with a 24-month commitment, Bouygues Telecom offers an Xbox Series S for 1 euro. A good deal for casual gamers, or a way to lock them into an operator?

“Your Xbox from 1 euro”. No, this is not a scam. On its site, the operator Bouygues Telecom offers to leave with Microsoft’s Xbox Series S console in the event of subscription to one of its Bbox Premium offers, with a 24-month commitment (and waiving the usual promotions, but we we will come back to this). Good plan or trap? Numerama took out the calculator.

A calculation over 2 years

Officially, the Xbox Series S costs 299.99 euros. However, during certain commercial operations, it is not uncommon to see Microsoft sell it off. At Christmas 2022, for example, it was regularly found under 230 euros.

What price should we take into account in our calculations? Numerama decided to be nice and start from the official price of the console, to which are added 38.99 euros for the 3 months of Game Pass Ultimate included. For 1 euro, Bouygues Télécom therefore “offers” a pack worth 338.98 euros, in partnership with La Vitrine High-Tech.

Here are the two offers offered by Bouygues. // Source: Capture Numerama

Two offers are proposed by Bouygues Télécom. Let’s see how much they really cost over 2 years, when the commitment ends:

Bbox must (1 Gbps + 700 Mbps, Wi-Fi 6) at 41.99 euros per month for 2 years + Xbox and Game Pass at 1 euro: €1,008.76 over 24 months.
Bbox ultym (2 Gbps + 800 Mbps, Wi-Fi 6E) at 50.99 euros per month for 2 years + Xbox and Game Pass at 1 euro: €1,224.76 over 24 months.

Here are the prices at which the same offers would return if the Xbox were purchased separately, taking into account the first year of promotion normally offered with the Bboxes:

Bbox must at 24.99 euros per month the first year + 41.99 euros the second + the Xbox + the Game Pass: 299.88 + 503.88 + 299.99 + 38.99 = 1,142.75 euros over 24 months, i.e. 133.99 euros more.
Bbox ultym at 30.99 euros per month the first year + 50.99 euros the second + the Xbox + the Game Pass: 371.88 + 611.88 + 299.99 + 38.99 = 1,322.74 euros over 24 months, i.e. 97.98 euros more.

For someone who only wants these offers from Bouygues Télécom, the offer with an Xbox can be profitable. However, it forces you to subscribe to the operator’s most expensive Fiber offers.

The Xbox Series S controller is included with the console. // Source: Microsoft

Leaving after 12 months is the best plan

Since Bouygues Télécom sells its Bbox Gaming offer only with its most expensive offers, the bill turns out to be steep at the end of the 24 months. So let’s repeat the same simulation with cheaper offers, but equivalent on paper. At Bouygues and elsewhere.

Bbox fit (400 Mbps + 400 Mbps) at 16.99 euros per month the first year + 31.99 euros the second + Xbox + Game Pass: 203.88 + 383.88 + 299.99 + 38.99 = 926.74 euros over 24 months, or 82.02 euros less than with the Bbox Gaming offer.
Sosh Fiber (300 Mbps + 300 Mbps) at 19.99 euros per month the first year + 29.99 euros the second + Xbox + Game Pass: 239.88 + 359.88 + 299.99 + 38.99 = 938.74 euros over 24 months, i.e. 70 euros in savings compared to the Bbox Gaming offer.
Freebox Pop (5 Gbps + 700 Mbps) at 29.99 euros per month the first year + 39.99 euros the second + Xbox + Game Pass: 359.88 + 479.88 + 299.99 + 38.99 = 1,178.74 euros over 24 months, i.e. 169.98 euros more than the Bbox Gaming offer.

Basically, Bouygues’ Gaming offers are therefore good, since they allow you to save money while enjoying a top-of-the-range offer. However, a smart customer could reduce the bill by changing operator after 12 months. With 1 year of Bbox must at 24.99 euros and 1 year of Sosh at 19.99 euros, in addition to Xbox and Game Pass, the bill would amount to €878.74, or 130 euros less than the basic Bbox Gaming offer. The change of offer is, once again, the best way to save money.

Bouygues’ offer, if not really slashing prices, is not bad. It does allow you to get a cheaper Xbox, even if the price of the packages offered is higher than with the competition. Be careful though: future promotions on the Xbox Series S could call into question all our calculations, especially since the Bbox Gaming offers commit you to 24 months (SFR had had the same idea with the PS5 several months ago).