Microsoft is hiking Xbox prices. The move affects games, consoles, and accessories. It comes amid trade war concerns. Supply chain issues are impacting the gaming industry. The Xbox Series S 512GB now costs $380, up $80. In India, that’s roughly Rs. 32,000. The Xbox Series X jumps to $600, a $100 increase. That’s about Rs. 50,577 in India. Controllers and headsets are pricier too. The price hikes are global. Sony raised PlayStation 5 prices two weeks ago. Sony cited inflation and economic challenges.
“We understand these changes are challenging,” Xbox said in a blog post. “They were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development.” Xbox aims to keep offering value. It focuses on cross-screen gaming access. Microsoft’s Game Pass service is central. It lets users play free games monthly. The service spans consoles, PCs, and smart TVs. Xbox also sells standalone titles. The Call of Duty series is a big seller. Some first-party games will cost $80 this holiday season. That’s up from $70. Nintendo is also charging $80 for Switch 2 titles.
Microsoft didn’t directly blame tariffs. But Xbox relies on overseas manufacturing. China is a key production hub. Tariff uncertainty is causing issues. Microsoft noted high inventory during its earnings call. The price changes start immediately. Retailers worldwide are affected. On Thursday, Microsoft shares rose 7.6%. Strong Azure cloud revenue drove the gain. Xbox Cloud Gaming is now on LG Smart TVs. Far Cry 4 runs at 60 FPS on Xbox Series S/X and PS5.