Here we go.
Microsoft is raising prices on the Xbox Series X and S starting August 1. It hurts. And it is only the third hike since May 2025. The global memory shortage refuses to let up.
The cost of hardware keeps climbing. For the 512 GB model, add $100. For the 1 TB variants, slap on an extra $150. If you wanted the 2 TB version of the Series X, you’re out of luck. Microsoft is discontinuing it.
Here is what you’re actually paying now:
- Series S 512 GB: $500
- Series S 1 TB: $600
- Series X 1 TB digital: $750
- Series X 1 TB disc drive: $800
Microsoft’s blog post admits they tried. They worked with suppliers for months to dodge this round. They failed.
“Console storage and memory prices have increased more than 2.5 times, and we expect another doubling by fall 2027.”
That’s the reality. The same component crisis pushing Apple’s prices higher is crushing consoles too. To soften the blow, Microsoft introduced buy-now-pay-later and zero-interest financing. They call it accessibility. We call it damage control.
Why are they doing this again?
Back in May 2020, Trump’s tariffs on imported goods sparked the first rise. Last October came another hike, triggered by the initial stages of the current memory squeeze. Now this.
It’s not just Redmond suffering.
Nintendo and Sony are adjusting too. The PS5 jumped twice, once last August, again in March. The Switch got more expensive last August. Now, Nintendo will hike the price of the Switch 9 this September. Everyone is paying for the same memory crunch.
New hardware isn’t safe either.
Valve revealed the price of the Steam Machine on Monday. It starts at $1,049. That number shocked people. Remember when Valve hinted this would compete with traditional console pricing? Back in November, maybe. Today it is $150 pricier than the PS5 Pro. Even the Steam Deck portable saw a price hike last month.
So much for accessible gaming.
