Xbox Series X|S Prices Increase Again: Up to $150 More Starting August 1
Xbox Series X|S
The Xbox Series X|S has seen its price raised for the second time in just a few months. Microsoft announced that starting from August 1, 2026, worldwide, the 512 GB storage models will cost $100 more and the 1 TB models $150 more. The 2 TB variant will be discontinued.
The reason is clearly stated in the press release. The cost of memory and storage for consoles has increased by over 2.5 times, and the company anticipates a further doubling by the fall of 2027. This pressure is affecting the entire consumer electronics sector, but it particularly impacts consoles.
The crux is the economic model. Unlike smartphones, computers, and other devices, consoles are not sold at a profit margin; instead, they are priced below their production cost. When component prices rise, manufacturers have very little room to absorb the increases without passing them on to the consumer.
Xbox Series X|S Prices Increase Again: Countermeasures and Missing Prices
This is not the first recent adjustment. In October 2025, Microsoft had already raised US prices by an amount ranging from $20 to $70, hoping not to go back on this. The subsequent months spent looking for alternatives with suppliers were not enough to avoid a second intervention.
For the Series range, this is the third increase in just over a year, a frequency that tells a story better than any press release regarding the strain on the supply chain. Those aiming for a console at the current price have a narrow window: until July 31, existing prices remain, after which the adjustments begin.
To soften the blow, the Redmond-based company has introduced several initiatives. There is a staggered payment option through Buy Now, Pay Later, with short-term interest-free rates available via Microsoft Store and on Amazon. There is also an enhancement of the distribution of used consoles, thanks to agreements with certain business partners.
The third front is refurbished units. Certified refurbished consoles remain available for purchase at Microsoft Stores, with discounts that can reach up to $100 off the price of new units. These measures are designed to broaden the customer base who can afford a purchase at a time when entry costs are rising.
Euro prices have not yet been announced, and the anticipation lies in understanding how much Italian prices will really increase. The announcement coincided almost simultaneously with Apple's price hikes on iPads and MacBooks, during a period when Sony has also increased the price of PlayStation 5.
The pattern is repeating across multiple fronts in the industry, indicating that the high memory costs are not an isolated problem for Microsoft. The shortage of memory chips is affecting the entire hardware sector, from consoles to PCs, driven by a demand that currently outpaces supply.
With another surge in costs anticipated by 2027, the prospect of further price adjustments on consoles remains anything but remote. The promise of more accessible purchases, reliant on installments and refurbished products, coexists with an underlying trend that pushes prices upward.