If you’re in the United States and thinking about buying an Xbox, you might want to act fast. Microsoft is raising the price of its Xbox consoles for the second time this year, with the new prices starting on October 3rd.
What’s Changing?
This price hike affects all Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X models. Microsoft hasn’t changed the prices for controllers or headsets, just the consoles themselves. Here’s a simple breakdown of the new prices:
- Xbox Series S (512GB): Now $399.99 (up from $379.99)
- Xbox Series S (1TB): Now $449.99 (up from $429.99)
- Xbox Series X: Now $649.99 (up from $599.99)
- Xbox Series X Digital: Now $599.99 (up from $549.99)
- Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Special Edition: Now $799.99 (up from $729.99)
This change only applies to the U.S. The prices in other countries are staying the same for now.
Why is This Happening?
Microsoft says the price increases are because of “changes in the macroeconomic environment,” which is a fancy way of saying the economy is making things more expensive. Experts believe the main reason is due to new tariffs on imported electronics, which affects parts used to make the consoles.
It’s not just Xbox, either. Other big gaming companies like Sony and Nintendo have also raised the prices of their consoles and accessories, so it seems to be a trend across the industry.
What This Means for Gamers
This new price hike makes it more expensive for new players to get into the Xbox ecosystem. For existing players, it might encourage them to use services like Xbox Game Pass, which lets them play games without needing to own a console. Some gamers might also choose to wait for the next generation of consoles to come out, which are rumored to be a few years away.
Xbox Raises Prices on Hardware and Games – IGN Daily Fix
This video provides additional context on the recent price hikes for both Xbox hardware and games.
