If you’ve been considering purchasing an Xbox Series X, it’s important to note that the price of the console is set to increase in most countries starting from August 1st. Microsoft has confirmed that the price hike will affect all countries except the US, Japan, Chile, Brazil, and Colombia. This move aligns with the recent price changes made by Sony for their PS5 console.
Microsoft’s Xbox communications chief, Kari Perez, explained that the company has maintained console prices for many years but decided to adjust them now to reflect the competitive conditions in each market. These price adjustments are not related to any recent events like the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard merger but are instead intended to match the local market conditions.
While the Xbox Series X will see a price increase in various countries, the Xbox Series S pricing will remain the same at $250, regardless of the market. Additionally, Microsoft is planning to introduce the Xbox Series S with 1TB storage in black, which will be available on September 1st.
Interestingly, Microsoft has also made a significant move regarding its game development. The company’s own studios will no longer be creating new games for the Xbox One console. However, players who own the older console can still enjoy upcoming games like Starfield and Fable through Game Pass Ultimate, the company’s game streaming service. It’s worth noting that Game Pass Ultimate will also experience a price increase, including for US subscribers.
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Starting soon, Xbox Game Pass will cost $11 per month, up by $1, while Game Pass Ultimate will see a larger jump from $15 to $17 per month. The Verge has provided a list of price increases for other markets. It’s important to mention that the price of PC Game Pass will not change, and Xbox Game Pass will remain unchanged in Norway, Chile, Denmark, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia.
These price changes will take effect for new Xbox Game Pass members on July 6th, while existing subscribers will start experiencing them on August 13th (or September 13th in Germany). However, if you have access to Game Pass through an annual code, the price changes will not affect you until it’s time for your renewal.
This marks the first time that Microsoft has increased Game Pass pricing since the service was introduced in 2017 as part of a transition away from Xbox Live Gold. However, considering the growing importance of Game Pass to Microsoft’s business model, it was expected that prices would eventually increase.
On the other hand, it may seem surprising that the price of the Xbox Series X is being raised at this point in its lifecycle, rather than being lowered. Xbox head Phil Spencer has previously stated that the company has increased the supply of Xbox Series X/S consoles, so the price increase cannot be attributed to a shortage. Instead, Microsoft cites market conditions such as inflation and currency fluctuations as the primary reasons for the increase.
In conclusion, if you’re interested in purchasing an Xbox Series X, it would be wise to do so before the end of July. Microsoft is raising the price of the console in most countries starting from August 1st. Additionally, Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will also experience price increases. These adjustments reflect Microsoft’s efforts to align prices with local market conditions and the growing significance of Game Pass to the company’s business model.
