Microsoft is increasing the recommended asking price of Xbox hardware and accessories worldwide starting today and will start charging $79.99 for some new first-party games this holiday season. The announcement comes after “careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development,” Microsoft said.
In the United States, this means Microsoft’s premiere Xbox Series X will now cost $599.99 for a unit with a disc drive (up from $499.99), while the Digital version will cost $549.99 (up from $449.99). On the lower end, a 1 TB Xbox Series S will now cost $429.99 (up from $349.99), while a 512GB unit will cost $379.99 (up from $299.99).
The new prices are already reflected on Microsoft’s official online store, and Microsoft says it will “provide updated recommended pricing to local retailers.” That might leave a small window where you can get Xbox hardware and accessories from those retailers at the older, lower price while supplies remain available.
For headsets specifically, Microsoft said that pricing will change “in the US and Canada only,” a potential recognition of the Trump administration tariffs on foreign goods imported into the United States. Microsoft also warned that “Xbox Series S and X availability may continue to change over time depending on the retailer and by country” as those tariffs threaten to upend international trade worldwide.
On the software side, Microsoft said the increase to $79.99 will apply to both digital and physical versions of “some” new games this holiday season. Existing Xbox games will not be seeing a price increase, and “different games and expansions will continue to be offered at a variety of price points.”
This is a developing story and will be updated with further information.
