Microsoft Announces Price Hike for Xbox Consoles in the U.S. Amidst Strong Financial Growth

Microsoft has announced a new price increase for Xbox consoles in the United States, effective from October 3rd—just a few months after the last hike. The company attributes this decision to «changes in the macroeconomic environment» and emphasizes that the prices of accessories, such as controllers and headsets, will remain unchanged.

The updated prices for Xbox Series consoles in the U.S. are as follows:

For context, when the Xbox Series X launched in 2020, it was priced at $499.99, while the Series S was $299.99. Over the past five years, the cost has increased by 30-33%, with the Galaxy Edition seeing a $200 rise in just one year.

This price hike has sparked significant backlash from the community, especially in light of Microsoft’s latest financial report, which highlighted an 18% increase in quarterly revenue (to $76.4 billion) and a 13% rise in Xbox’s earnings from content and services.