Xbox Series X|S Prices to Rise by Up to $150 Globally From August 1
The price hike, driven by a component crisis that Microsoft says will worsen through 2027, pushes the Xbox Series X 1TB to $800 and the Series S 512GB to $499, making it the third increase in under two years and signaling that console hardware may no longer be able to sustain the traditional below-cost pricing model.
Key Facts
- Microsoft will raise Xbox Series X|S prices worldwide starting August 1, 2026, with the 1TB model increasing by $150 and the 512GB model by $100.
- The Xbox Series X 1TB will cost $800, and the Series S 512GB will cost $499 after the price hike.
- This is the third price increase for Xbox consoles in the US in under two years, following hikes in October 2025 and May 2025 in Japan.
- Microsoft attributed the price revision to component shortages, stating storage and memory costs have risen more than 2.5 times and are expected to double again by fall 2027.
- Microsoft announced purchase support measures including interest-free installments, 12-month 0% APR financing on Amazon, a trade-in program, and refurbished consoles at up to $100 off MSRP.
Reporting from 4 sources: ASCII.jp, Automaton, GameBusiness.jp, Game Spark.
Microsoft announced on June 25 that it will raise the prices of Xbox Series X and Series S consoles worldwide starting August 1, 2026. The 512GB model will increase by $100, and the 1TB model by $150. The 2TB model will be discontinued. This marks the third price increase for Xbox consoles in the US in a short period, following a $20 to $70 hike in October 2025 and a roughly 20,000 yen increase in Japan in May 2025. Microsoft attributed the price revision to component shortages and price surges in the home electronics industry, stating that storage and memory costs have risen more than 2.5 times and are expected to double again by fall 2027. The company noted that consoles are typically sold below manufacturing cost, unlike general electronics. Alongside the price increase, Microsoft announced purchase support measures: a "Buy Now, Pay Later" option for interest-free installments at the Microsoft Store, 12-month 0% APR financing on eligible hardware through Amazon, a used console trade-in program with retail partners, and Xbox Certified Refurbished consoles available at up to $100 off MSRP.
The new prices break down as follows: Xbox Series S 512GB goes from $399 to $499; Xbox Series S 1TB from $449 to $599; Xbox Series X 1TB from $649 to $800; and Xbox Series X 1TB Digital Edition from $599 to $750. The 2TB model is discontinued. Japanese prices have not been announced.
Microsoft stated it explored options with suppliers for several months before concluding the increase was unavoidable. The company noted that consoles are sold below manufacturing cost, unlike smartphones, PCs, or speakers, making them especially vulnerable to the component crisis affecting the entire consumer electronics industry. The Automaton article also noted that Valve's Steam Machine, announced June 23, was delayed due to parts procurement difficulties and forced to switch from dual-channel memory to a single 16GB module.
Alongside the price increase, Microsoft announced purchase support measures. The "Buy Now, Pay Later" option at the Microsoft Store offers short-term, interest-free installments. Amazon offers "Interest Free Financing" for up to 12 months at 0% APR on eligible Xbox hardware. A used console trade-in program with retail partners is in preparation, allowing customers to trade in consoles for cash or store credit, with traded-in units offered at lower prices. Xbox Certified Refurbished consoles will be available at the Microsoft Store for up to $100 off MSRP.
The Xbox Series S remains the lowest-cost console option and can play upcoming titles including Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Gears of War: E-Day, Grand Theft Auto VI, Halo: Campaign Evolved, and Madden NFL 27.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.