Xbox Price Hikes Are Now In Effect Worldwide

Buying a new Xbox just got a lot more expensive in the US, Europe, and UK, GameSpot reported on August 1. The previously announced Xbox Series X|S price hikes are now in effect, with the Xbox Series X crossing $700 for the first time in the US.

The New Prices

In the US, all 512GB SKUs have seen price increases. In Europe, the entry-level price now starts at €499.99 / £429.99. The UK has seen the steepest jump, with one Xbox model rising by £170 - a 43% increase, the BBC reported. Microsoft attributed the increases to higher component costs, particularly memory.

"Buying a new Xbox just got a lot more expensive in the US, Europe, and UK," GameSpot wrote.

Why It Matters

The price hikes land at a moment when Sony's PlayStation 5 has held its price. Sony has not yet announced increases, but several analysts believe a similar move is likely before the holiday season. The pricing pressure is being driven by the global memory chip shortage, which has been reshaping consumer-electronics pricing across categories. Apple is also reportedly affected, with the MacBook Air in short supply.

What's Next

Microsoft has framed the increases as temporary but analysts expect them to stick through 2027. The wider question is what this means for the next console generation. Memory and storage are larger components in modern consoles than in previous generations, and AI-related demand for memory has reduced the supply available for consumer devices. The console market may need to adapt to higher baseline pricing across the industry.