Microsoft Hikes Xbox Series Prices, Games to Reach $80 This Holiday

Microsoft has announced a significant price increase for various Xbox products, effective immediately. Starting today, May 1, the prices for Xbox consoles, controllers, and headsets are set to rise, with the exception of headset prices, which will only increase in the U.S. and Canada. While the cost of games remains unchanged for now, Microsoft has indicated that new, first-party titles will be priced at $79.99 come the holiday season.

This global price adjustment comes after careful consideration of market conditions and the escalating costs of development, as Microsoft seeks to maintain value for its Xbox players. The new prices in the U.S. for various Xbox products are as follows:

Xbox Series S 512 - $379.99 (previously $299.99)
Xbox Series S 1TB - $429.99 (previously $349.99)
Xbox Series X Digital - $549.99 (previously $449.99)
Xbox Series X - $599.99 (previously $499.99)
Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Special Edition - $729.99 (previously $599.99)
Xbox Wireless Controller (Core) - $64.99
Xbox Wireless Controller (Color) - $69.99
Xbox Wireless Controller - Special Edition - $79.99
Xbox Wireless Controller - Limited Edition - $89.99 (previously $79.99)
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Core) - $149.99 (previously $139.99)
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Full) - $199.99 (previously $179.99)
Xbox Stereo Headset - $64.99
Xbox Wireless Headset - $119.99 (previously $109.99)

For more detailed price changes by region, you can visit the official Xbox announcement page [here](#).

Microsoft has yet to specify which first-party games will see the new $80 price tag, but potential candidates could include highly anticipated titles like the next mainline Call of Duty, the new Fable game, the Perfect Dark reboot, inXile's Clockwork Revolution, Rare's Everwild, The Coalition's Gears of War: E-Day, Hideo Kojima’s OD, Undead Labs' State of Decay 3, and a new game from Psychonauts developer Double Fine. Fans can expect more information at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct scheduled for June.

This marks the first price increase for Xbox Series S consoles since their launch in 2020, despite Microsoft's previous commitment in 2022 to maintain existing prices when PlayStation raised the PS5's price. Xbox did increase the price of the Xbox Series X in 2023 in most countries, excluding the U.S., and has adjusted Xbox Game Pass prices globally on multiple occasions.

The trend of price increases isn't unique to Microsoft; PlayStation recently raised prices in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand for the second time in three years. The gaming industry as a whole has seen AAA game prices rise from $60 to $70 over the past five years, and Nintendo has set a $80 price point for upcoming Switch 2 exclusives like Mario Kart World. The Switch 2 itself is set to launch at $450, a decision that has drawn criticism amidst economic pressures.

Nintendo faced additional pricing challenges due to fluctuating tariffs in the U.S., which forced a reevaluation of its pricing strategy. Although the console's price remained at $450, accessory prices were affected. Analysts and the Entertainment Software Association have warned that these economic pressures are industry-wide, impacting all gaming platforms and devices.

In these challenging economic times, it seems that gamers across all platforms will need to brace for higher costs.