Alex thought about his Elite Series 2 controller, too. He’d heard that separate protection for those gaming accessories had recently seen a price increase to about . Considering the "stick drift" horror stories he'd read on Reddit , the upfront cost felt like a small price for a guaranteed replacement.

The cost for a plan for an Xbox console typically ranges from $79.99 to $99.99 , depending on the specific model and price of the device.

: The plan includes a one-time replacement for the controller that came in the box if it stops working.

Alex hesitated. He knew he was careful, but he also remembered the time his roommate's cat sent a glass of water flying across the living room. For an Xbox console priced around $499.99, the plan was quoted at $79.99 —roughly $3.33 a month. The employee explained what that $79.99 really bought: