Microsoft Increases Xbox Prices Amid Global Tariffs and Rising Development Costs
Microsoft raises Xbox console and accessory prices globally, with games expected to cost $79.99 as tariffs impact the gaming industry.
The changes, which stirred some frustration within the gaming community on Thursday, come after Nintendo also raised prices of some games to $79.99 last month.
Xbox raises prices on consoles, controllers, headsets due to 'market conditions'
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Microsoft's recommended retail pricing for consoles and controllers is staggering.
You'll Pay More for Some Xbox Games, Consoles and More Soon
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While not explicitly mentioned by Microsoft, Donald Trump’s tariffs on Washington’s trading partners have cast a shadow over the gaming industry.
Microsoft raises Xbox prices globally amid tariff uncertainty
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It represents a big change in an industry which would typically see prices go down in the years after a console's launch.
Xbox prices hiked worldwide amid tariff uncertainty
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This is likely a reference to President Donald Trump’s administration’s plans to levy steep tariffs on goods from other countries, which also impacted the preorder process for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Xbox consoles, controllers, and games are getting more expensive
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Today's announcement marks the first time in the history of the Xbox line that Microsoft has raised the recommended asking price for its gaming hardware in the United States.
Microsoft raises prices on Xbox hardware, says “some” holiday games will be $80
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Summary
Microsoft has announced significant price hikes for Xbox consoles, accessories, and some games, attributing the increases to global tariffs and rising development costs. The Xbox Series X will now retail for $599.99, and the entry-level Series S will increase to $379.99. Prices for some new first-party Xbox games will also rise to $79.99 this holiday season. These adjustments affect markets globally, but the price of existing games will remain unchanged. The company noted that availability may fluctuate by region, reflecting ongoing economic challenges within the gaming industry.
Perspectives
Microsoft has announced significant price increases for Xbox consoles, accessories, and some first-party games, citing rising costs of development and market conditions as key reasons.
The price hikes reflect a broader trend in the gaming industry where prices are increasing rather than decreasing over time, which contrasts traditional practices of decreasing prices following a console launch.
Experts suggest that US tariffs and global economic uncertainty could impact prices further, with potential knock-on effects for other gaming companies.
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