Microsoft Video Games Resale Value

Microsoft video games: price by condition

Seller-declared grades, sterling with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). What each grade means.

What holds its value across Microsoft

• Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models with current processors, which still receive updates and are usable as everyday machines
• Higher specifications with more memory, since the memory is soldered and cannot be upgraded later by the buyer
• Machines with the original charger, which uses a proprietary connector and is expensive to replace
• The Surface Studio and the peripherals around it, which were made in small numbers and hold a niche following

What pulls Microsoft resale value down

• Swollen batteries, which lift the screen or the trackpad away from the chassis — this is a known Surface failure and effectively ends the machine
• Cracked screens, which on a bonded display cost close to the value of a used unit to replace
• The original Surface RT and other models that never ran standard desktop software, which have essentially no practical value now
• Missing or third-party chargers, which are a frequent source of returns because the connector is specific to the range

Identifying and dating yours

1. The serial is under the kickstand on a Surface Pro and on the base of a Surface Laptop, and it identifies the exact model and generation
2. Lay the device on a flat surface and photograph it edge-on — any rocking or a gap at the screen edge is the first sign of a swelling battery
3. State the processor generation, the memory and the storage in the title, since these are not upgradeable and are what buyers filter on

What lifts any video games, whatever the label

Individual games range from pennies to serious collector sums, and the difference is almost always the specific title rather than the platform.

• Sealed or complete-in-box copies with manuals
• Sought-after titles with small print runs
• Discs and cartridges free of deep scratches
• Complete collections sold as a run

And what pulls one down

• Disc scratches deep enough to cause read errors
• Missing manuals and inserts on collectable titles
• Cracked cases, though these are cheap to replace
• Sports titles and annual releases, which sell for very little

Working out what yours is worth

1. Check whether the case, manual and inserts are all present
2. Hold discs to the light at an angle to see scratches
3. Search sold listings for that exact title and platform

What to state in the listing

• Platform and region for every title
• Exact titles and editions included
• Disc or cartridge condition, and whether cases and artwork are complete
• Whether manuals or inserts are present

Platform first, then whether it is a bundle: “PS4 Game Bundle — 8 Titles Including FIFA and GTA V”. Naming two or three recognisable titles in the title pulls in searches for those games specifically. For a single valuable game, list it alone with the exact edition.

Preparing and photographing it

1. Check every disc or cartridge for scratches, and confirm each is in its correct case with the correct artwork.
2. Confirm manuals and inserts are present, which matters more on older titles than most sellers realise.
3. Note the platform and region for each title, since region locking still affects some systems.

1. The full set laid out, spines and artwork visible
2. The discs or cartridges out of their cases, showing surface condition
3. Any manual or insert included
4. Any scratch, cracked case or missing artwork

When it sells best, and handing it over

Steady, with a strong Christmas lift. Bundles move quickly; common individual titles sit for a long time.

Cheap to post but heavier than expected in quantity, so weigh a bundle before quoting postage. Pack cases so they cannot crack against each other.

What buyers ask

Is a Surface with a swollen battery worth selling?

Only for parts, and it must be described that way. The battery pushes the display out of the chassis and replacement is rarely economic on a bonded unit.

Why does Surface memory matter so much second hand?

It is soldered to the board, so a buyer cannot add more later. A higher-memory model is worth appreciably more and should be stated in the listing title.

How much are Microsoft video games worth?

Roughly £5 to £42 depending on condition, against £5 to £40 for video games generally. The identification points above are what move a listing to the top of that range.

What the fees would take elsewhere

At the mid-range £23 for Microsoft video games, against what the commission marketplaces would deduct:

Seller-side rates verified 26 Jul 2026, percentages only — the per-order and processing charges those platforms add are excluded, so the real gap is wider.

Listing is free and there is no commission — read how to sell video games for the title, handover and timing, or the general video games value guide if yours is not a Microsoft.

See also: all Microsoft value guides · value guides by brand · buying video games · Gaming · condition grades.