The price increase for Xbox consoles has not gone down well in the US as Microsoft’s actions are compared unfavourably to Sony’s PS5 Pro.
Despite sales of the Xbox Series X/S being far behind that of the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, Microsoft has raised the console’s price dramatically in light of adverse ‘market conditions’.
This worldwide price hike, which came into effect on May 1, is part of a wider increase across other video game hardware, following revised US tariffs. Nintendo has had to bump up the price of Switch 2 accessories, while Sony increased the price of the PlayStation 5 in the UK, Europe, and Australia (although, as of yet, not the US).
While Nintendo and Sony appear to be trying to soften the blow, at least in their messaging, the new price for the Xbox Series X/S has soared above any rational explanation in the US.
Over in the UK and Europe, the damage isn’t so bad. The Xbox Series X will now cost £499.99/€599.99, an increase of £20/€50. The 512GB Xbox Series S has gone up £50/€50 to £299.99/ €349.99, while the 2TB Xbox Series X model is up £40/€50 to £589.99/€699.99.
It’s a very different story in the US, where the Xbox Series X is up a massive $100 at $599.99. The 512GB Xbox Series s is now up $80 at $379.99, while the 2TB Xbox Series X has jumped by $130 to $729.99.
The latter has attracted significant criticism online, with fans pointing out that the 2TB Xbox Series X now costs $30 more than Sony’s more powerful $699 PS5 Pro – in the UK, the PS5 Pro is still £110 more expensive at £699.99.
In a post on X, one user wrote: ‘$730. For an outdated console whose entire library can be experienced better on all other platforms, they want $730!!?’
Another added: ‘Microsoft, you’re supposed to lower Xbox prices when it doesn’t sell well, not raise them!’
‘As someone that doesn’t even like PlayStation I gotta say, at this price I’d rather just buy a f***ing PS5 Pro. I’m not defending Xbox no more. It’s over,’ another stated.
Beyond the consoles, Microsoft has also said the price of some games will increase to $80 at the end of this year. A UK price is yet to be announced, but this will likely mean a £10 increase to £80 on the next Call Of Duty and other first party games.
In a statement, a Microsoft spokesperson said: ‘We understand that these changes are challenging, and they made with careful consideration. ‘Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players.’
While it’s likely Sony will announce a price increase to PlayStation 5 consoles in the US soon, in the same vein as the UK and Europe, these Xbox prices are certainly not a good look for a console Microsoft has already downplayed significantly in its marketing.
These price hikes are noteworthy too because, as we’ve seen via Sony’s metrics, many people still haven’t made the jump to the current console generation – so this will only make it look less appealing, even when they are inevitably bundled with GTA 6 next year.
The one winner amid all of these hikes is perhaps Nintendo, with the upcoming Mario Kart World Switch 2 bundle now looking particularly reasonable at £429.99/$499.99.
The big question moving forward is how this will impact the price of Sony and Microsoft’s next generation consoles, which are expected to arrive at some point in 2027.
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