Huge Price Increase on Xbox Consoles
Xbox console prices are back in the spotlight following a recent price hike across Europe. Microsoft’s decision to raise prices by up to €200 on both the Series S and Series X models has fueled criticism of the brand, which has already been struggling with sales. While increased memory and component costs are cited as the primary reason, it’s clear that gamers are not keen on the new price tags.
How Much Have Xbox Console Prices Increased in Europe?
According to the new pricing in Europe, some Xbox Series S models have gone from €399.99 to €599.99. On the Xbox Series X side, the highest price has increased from €599.99 to €799.99. This represents a 33% increase for some consoles. In the United Kingdom, prices for the Series S have reached £429.99 and the Series X £669.99.
Microsoft’s price increases are attributed to rising memory and hardware costs driven by the growth of the AI sector. The shift of a significant portion of memory production to data centers reduces the availability of components for consumer electronics. Since console manufacturers cannot absorb these rising costs from their own budgets for long, the difference is directly passed on to users.
The new prices have been met with strong criticism from gaming communities. Some users say they don’t find paying around £700 for a Series X logical, while others question the future of the Xbox brand in the console market. Clearly, the fact that a device released years ago has become so expensive instead of cheaper could make it much harder to convince new buyers.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma recently stated that the company will continue to invest in traditional consoles and hardware. However, current price levels could be one of the biggest obstacles to this plan. Xbox has lagged behind its competitors in console sales for years, and these price increases could widen the gap even further. The Xbox console prices, especially for entry-level players looking for affordable options, could drive them towards PCs, second-hand devices, or competing platforms.
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