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Virgin Media O2 has said gamers could be sitting on a small fortune in unused consoles and devices.
New research from Virgin Media O2 shows players could earn up to £1000 by recycling old devices through the O2 Recycle scheme, with the average gamer owning about seven unused consoles.
The findings come as nearly half (48%) of gamers express plans to upgrade their systems ahead of the highly anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI).
♻️ To mark International E-Waste Day, we’ve revamped our O2 Recycle scheme. Since 2009, O2 Recycle has: ♻️ Recycled more than 4mil devices 🫰 Paid out more than £354mil to consumers 🥬 Zero parts have gone into landfill Visit O2 Recycle: https://t.co/YSjhhl8p44 https://t.co/0zSEsqbQZ7
— Virgin Media O2 News (@VMO2News) October 14, 2025
Chief sustainability officer at Virgin Media O2, Dana Haidan, said: "GTA VI is set to be one of the biggest gaming and cultural moments in years, and many players will want the latest tech to experience it at its best.
"With gamers anticipating they’ll need to spend almost £200 between now and November preparing for the launch, the cost of upgrading can quickly add up.
"But many could also be sitting on old consoles worth enough to make a real difference.
"Through O2 Recycle, gamers can turn unused tech into cash towards an upgrade, rather than leaving valuable devices tucked away at home or going to waste."
With less than 50 days until the game's release, players expect to spend an average of £195 upgrading their gaming setup.
Watch Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look. Now on @netflix: https://t.co/n7rgIvngtU https://t.co/tyDK8Mctcc
— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) August 27, 2026
However, 44% of those surveyed said a more powerful console was financially out of reach.
More than half (52%) said they would prefer to trade in old gaming tech rather than cut back on everyday spending (takeaways, nights out, etc.).
This is where O2 Recycle comes in.
What is the O2 Recycle scheme?
The O2 Recycle scheme, which is open to everyone regardless of mobile network, allows users to trade in unused consoles for cash.
O2 Recycle repairs, refurbishes, and resells devices where possible, or recycles them responsibly with zero parts going to landfill.
Since its launch in 2009, O2 Recycle has recycled more than four million devices and paid out £360 million to consumers.
How much money you could make from old gaming consoles
Gamers could claim up to £160 for old consoles through O2 Recycle.
Some of the highest prices on offer, according to the O2 Recycle website, are:
- PlayStation : £160 (PlayStation 5)
- Xbox : £110 (Xbox Series X or S)
- Nintendo Switch : £92 (Nintendo Switch OLED)
These prices are based on the devices being in full working condition.
Other devices that could earn you up to £1000 through O2 Recycle
You can also earn cash from other devices, including mobile phones, laptops, and headphones.
Some of the highest prices on offer through O2 Recycle are:
- Apple iPhone : £720 (iPhone 17 Pro Max)
- Other mobile phones : £900 (Google Pixel 11 Pro XL)
- Apple MacBook : £1000 (MacBookPro14 6 M2 Max 12 Core CPU 38 Core GPU 16 inch A2780 1/2023)
- Apple Watch : £350 (Apple Watch Ultra 3 49MM Cellular)
- Apple iPad : £650 (iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) Cellular)
- Airpods : £50 (Airpods Pro 2nd Generation)
These prices are based on the devices being in full working condition.
You can find out exactly how much your old mobile or device is worth via the O2 Recycle website.
How to claim cash back with O2 Recycle
To claim money for your old device via O2 Recycle, all you have to do is follow these five simple steps:
- Select your device on the O2 Recycle website.
- Receive your estimate, and if you are satisfied, complete your order.
- Prepare your device by backing it up, charging it, and sorting out security.
- Post it to Virgin Media O2.
- Virgin Media O2 will then securely wipe your device, and you’ll get paid within 3 to 5 days (after it has been received).
Alternatively, people buying devices or mobile plans from Virgin Media O2 can trade in their unwanted console, smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch to get money off their device or airtime plan.
Excitement builds ahead of GTA VI release
Virgin Media O2's research also highlighted the excitement surrounding the launch of GTA VI.
Nearly half (46%) of those surveyed said they are more excited for the game's release than Christmas.
One in five (20%) intend to stay up until midnight to play GTA VI and 13% will secretly finish work early to free up time.
Around 10% plan to take annual leave to play GTA VI, while 11% are prepared to cancel plans with friends or loved ones.
Gamers expect to spend nearly 12 hours playing the game during its first weekend.
Do you have any old consoles or devices at home you could trade in? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.