Xbox Price Rises Revealed, as Series X/S Costs Spike By More Than a Third in Europe

Key Points:

• Microsoft has raised Xbox Series X and S console prices in Europe by more than a third, with UK prices for the Series X disc model increasing by 48% to £669.99, sparking significant backlash from fans.
• In the U.S., price hikes are also substantial but less steep, with the Series S 512GB model up $100 to $499.99 and the Series X 1TB disc model rising $150 to $799.99; the 2TB model will be discontinued.
• Microsoft attributes the price increases to a surge in storage and memory costs, which have risen over 2.5 times, with expectations of further doubling by 2027, amid a broader consumer electronics component shortage.
• The price rises come ahead of the highly anticipated GTA 6 release, which is expected to boost demand for current-generation consoles, though supply constraints and rising costs pose challenges for both Microsoft and Sony.
• Industry leaders, including Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, acknowledge that escalating hardware costs may necessitate new business models, as affordability for mass audiences becomes increasingly difficult in the evolving gaming market.