Microsoft has announced that it will be increasing the prices of its Xbox Series X in most countries starting in August. However, the price increase will not affect customers in the US, Japan, Chile, Brazil, and Colombia. Additionally, the monthly prices of Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions will also see an increase for the first time next month.
Kari Perez, the head of communications for Xbox, explained the decision, stating, “We’ve held on our prices for consoles for many years and have adjusted the prices to reflect the competitive conditions in each market.” This suggests that the price adjustment is a response to market factors rather than a result of Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
The pricing for the Xbox Series X will align with Sony’s price increase for the PS5 last year. In the UK, the Xbox Series X will be priced at £479.99, in most European markets it will be €549.99, in Canada it will be CAD $649.99, and in Australia it will be AUD $799.99. On the other hand, the price of the Xbox Series S will remain unchanged at $249.99 in all markets.
It was not entirely unexpected for Xbox to adjust its prices following Sony’s move last year. In fact, Xbox chief Phil Spencer hinted in October that pricing for subscriptions would not remain the same forever. And true to his statement, starting from July 6th, there will be an increase in prices for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass for Console subscriptions. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will see a price increase from $14.99 per month to $16.99, while the base Xbox Game Pass for Console subscription will increase from $9.99 to $10.99.
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Existing Game Pass monthly subscribers will not experience these price increases until August 13th, or September 13th in Germany. However, new members who join on or after July 6th will be subjected to the new prices immediately. Meanwhile, those subscribed to Xbox Game Pass through a yearly code will not be affected until they renew their subscription.
It’s important to note that not all markets will be affected by the price increases for Xbox Game Pass. Norway, Chile, Denmark, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia will see no changes in their Game Pass console pricing.
Microsoft clarified that these price adjustments for Xbox Game Pass are independent of the Activision Blizzard deal and are simply intended to match local market conditions.
The price hikes for Xbox subscriptions are in line with the general trend in the industry. Other entertainment subscriptions like Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Apple Music, and Spotify have also experienced price increases in recent years. Nintendo has yet to adjust the pricing for its Switch Online subscription service since its launch in 2018, while Sony only recently introduced new PlayStation Plus subscriptions for PlayStation owners.
In conclusion, Microsoft is increasing the prices of Xbox Series X consoles in most countries, as well as the monthly fees for Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions. These changes reflect market conditions and follow a broader trend of price increases in the entertainment subscription industry.
