Microsoft has confirmed how much more the Xbox Series X/S will cost in the UK and Europe and fans are furious about the “laughably outrageous” price hikes.
Last month, Microsoft confirmed Xbox consoles would be getting more expensive for the second time in 18 months. “We hoped another price increase would not be necessary, and we have spent the last several months working with suppliers on options. Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027. The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles,” Microsoft wrote in a blog post. “Unlike phones, computers, speakers, and other consumer devices, consoles are typically not sold at a profit, but instead for less than they cost to make.”
At the time it was confirmed US gamers would be paying between $100 and $150 more for Xbox Series X/S consoles and over the weekend, the new prices for UK and European customers were confirmed.
- Xbox Series S (512GB) – £429.99 / €499.99 (was £299.99 / €349.99)
- Xbox Series S (1TB) – £519.99 / €599.99 (was £349.99 / €399.99)
- Xbox Series X (1TB, Digital) – £619.99 / €749.99 (was £449.99 / €549.99)
- Xbox Series X (1TB, Disc) – £669.99 / €799.99 (was £499.99 / €599.99)
Last May you could get the 512GB Xbox Series S, which launched in 2020, for £249.99.
“I understand why they had to do this, but they can’t seriously expect any sales now for an already poorly selling console,” one fan asked on Reddit. “At this point in the lifecycle you should have been able to get a Series S for like $99.99 not $499.99. That’s laughably outrageous,” wrote another. “Never thought consoles would appreciate in value over time,” said a third.
Earlier this year, Nintendo raised the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 by $50 in response to “various changes in the market environment” while Sony has increased the cost of the PlayStation 5 twice in the past year.
New Xbox boss Asha Sharma recently said the next generation of Xbox consoles might not be “the most premium, high-performance” because “we’ve reached a point where it will be hard to imagine that mass audiences can afford thousands of dollars to spend on a console.”
According to rumours, both the PS6 and next-gen Xbox are due to launch late next year but could be delayed to 2029 due to “RAMmageddon”.
In other news Mick Gordon, the composer of the iconic Doom reboot score, has been announced as the first headliner of Manchester’s RADAR Festival next year.
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