After Nintendo and Sony, Xbox is Next to Hike Console Prices

Following Sony and Nintendo hiking prices for their consoles, the last one of the Big 3 following suit seemed like a matter of "when" and not "if." That concern became reality late last week when Microsoft officially announced it is raising the cost of Xbox Series X/S consoles starting next month, affecting US-based gamers in particular.

From October 3, 2025, Xbox will update the recommended retail price for Series X/S consoles in the United States, citing "changes in the macroeconomic environment" as the reason for the increase. Outside the US, recommended pricing will stay the same, though Xbox noted that local prices may vary by country based on exchange rates and market conditions. The hike applies only to the consoles, while accessories such as controllers and headsets will keep their current prices.

Going forward, Xbox Series X will be priced at $650 (up from $600), Xbox Series X Digital will climb to $600 (up from $550), Xbox Series S 512GB will rise to $400 (up from $380), and Xbox Series S 1TB will increase to $450 (up from $430). Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition remains the most expensive model and will now cost $800, up from $730.

The news arrives on the heels of Microsoft reporting Xbox console sales falling for four years in a row – dropping 22% over the past 12 months – a figure that marked the second-largest decline in the past four years, behind only a staggering 42% drop in FY24, which followed a 13% dip in FY23 and an 11% decline in FY22. With Xbox hardware already losing ground to Sony and Nintendo, the price hike makes it highly likely that FY26 will mark the fifth straight year of falling sales.

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