Microsoft raises prices for Xbox consoles, accessories beginning May 1

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Anyone in the market for a new Xbox console or accessory will likely experience sticker shock when they hit the checkout.

Microsoft announced Thursday they are raising the prices of hardware across the board, citing market conditions and development costs.

“We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development,” Xbox said in a blog post Thursday. “Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players.”

In the United States, the base Xbox Series X will now cost gamers $599.99, up $100 from just days ago.

The less powered Xbox Series S 1TB only saw an $80 increase while the Series X 2TB Galaxy Special Edition saw a $120 increase to $729.99.

Updated console prices in the US

The cost of many of Xbox’s accessories also received a price bump, with the largest increase coming to the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 having it’s price raised $20 to a whopping $199.99.

The core and colored variation of the standard Xbox Wireless controller, meanwhile, remain unchanged at $64.99 and $69.99, respectively.

Updated accessory prices in the US

Xbox said pricing on headsets will increase in the United States and Canada only.

Microsoft did not specify whether tariffs levied by the United States and the global tariff war impacted their decision to raise prices. Xbox consoles are primarily manufactured in China, which is facing 145% tariff on many products under the Trump administration.

As market uncertainty looms across the globe, Microsoft said “Xbox Series S and X availability may continue to change over time depending on the retailer and by country.”

In the same blog post on Xbox.com, the company confirmed that beginning with the 2025 holiday season, gamers can expect to see some of the company’s new first-party games launch with a $79.99 price tag.

PlayStation 5 sees price increases in many countries

Just days before Xbox announced their price increases, Sony likewise announced an increase on many of its consoles.

In Europe, the cost of a PS5 Digital Edition is going up to €499.99. Gamers in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand also saw the costs of the PlayStation 5 go up.

Notably absent from the the PlayStation announcement is the inclusion of price changes in the United States.

Nintendo of America President says company is monitoring tariffs’ impacts

After Nintendo delayed the preorders of the new Switch 2 just days after announcing the console, the president of Nintendo of America says the company is monitoring how tariffs may impact the console.

Doug Bowser told NPR in April that the company based the console’s $449 price tag on previous tariffs.

“Much like every other company, I think in the U.S. right now, we’re in the process of actively assessing what the impact may be, but we really have nothing further to announce in regards to pricing,” Bowser said. “We’re just watching and trying to understand what that impact might be and what actions we might have to take.”

While Nintendo did say that the tariffs would affect the price of accessories, they did not raise the initial price of the console itself.

After opening up preorders on April 24, retailers such as Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and others had their allotment of preorders sell out almost immediately.

Nintendo has confirmed the Switch 2 will launch on time despite preorder delays in the US.

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