On Thursday, Microsoft revealed plans to increase Xbox console prices globally, referencing “market conditions,” just days after Sony implemented a similar change for the PlayStation 5.
The tech giant will also elevate the prices of various new games produced by its video game subsidiaries.
In the US, the base model, Xbox Series S, will rise from $299.99 to $379.99, marking a 27% increase. The Premium Series X Galaxy Black model will now be available for $729.99, up 22% from the prior price of $599.99. Furthermore, selected new games from Microsoft-owned studios will cost $79.99, reflecting a 14% hike from the current $69.99.
In Europe, the Series S price has shifted from 299.99 euros to 349.99 euros, an increase of 17%. In Australia, the Series S starts at $549, while the Series X begins at $849.
“We recognize that these adjustments will be challenging and have been made after careful consideration of market conditions and escalating development expenditures,” the company stated on its website.
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Though Microsoft hasn’t explicitly cited it, Donald Trump’s tariffs on various trading partners have loomed over the gaming sector.
Xbox consoles, primarily manufactured in China, face US tariffs as high as 145% on numerous products enacted during the Trump administration.
The Series S and X models launched in late 2020 and have sold around 30 million units, according to industry analysts.
In mid-April, Sony announced price hikes for several PlayStation 5 models in select markets, including Europe, while notably excluding the US. Like Xbox, the PS5 is predominantly assembled in China. Additionally, Nintendo has similarly postponed pre-orders for the Switch 2 console, which debuted shortly before Trump’s tariff announcement.
Source: www.theguardian.com
