Key Takeaways
1. Microsoft is increasing Xbox console prices for the second time in 2025, effective October 3, with hikes between $20 to $70 per model.
2. The standard Xbox Series X will rise to $649.99 and the Xbox Series S to $399.99; the Galaxy Black Special Edition will increase to $799.99.
3. Gamers have until October 2 to purchase consoles at the current prices from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.
4. The price increases are attributed to tariff pressures on electronic components, with tariffs ranging from 10% to 40% impacting costs.
5. Microsoft aims to ease consumer burden by keeping prices stable for controllers and headsets, while the increases apply only to the US market for now.
Microsoft has decided to increase the prices of Xbox consoles for the second time in 2025, with the hikes ranging from $20 to $70 per model, effective from October 3. This increase follows a previous price rise in May, summing up to a total of $150 added to some consoles within just six months.
Pricing Changes Affecting Consoles
The new price changes will impact all current-generation Xbox consoles, and this is only for the United States. The standard Xbox Series X will rise to $649.99 from its previous price of $599.99, whereas the entry-level Xbox Series S will see an increase to $399.99 from $379.99. Additionally, the premium Galaxy Black Special Edition will experience a substantial $70 hike, bringing its cost up to $799.99.
Last Chance for Current Pricing
For gamers in the US, the opportunity to buy consoles at the old prices is about to end. Retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart are still selling at the current prices, but this will only last until October 2.
Right now, Xbox consoles can be found on Amazon at these prices –
Reasons Behind the Price Increases
Microsoft has said these adjustments are due to “changes in the macroeconomic environment,” which analysts believe are related to tariff pressures on costs. Recent trade policies have imposed tariffs between 10% to 40% on multiple electronic components made in China, Vietnam, and India. Moreover, gaming consoles do not enjoy the exemptions that smartphones and computer parts receive, making them more susceptible to the highest tariff impacts.
This new pricing strategy aligns Microsoft with rivals Sony and Nintendo, both of whom have recently increased their prices too. Sony raised the price of its PlayStation 5 consoles by around $50 in August, while Nintendo followed suit by raising Switch console and accessory prices after the announcement of the Switch 2.
The company is trying to ease the burden on consumers by keeping the prices for controllers and headsets stable, while restricting these increases to the US market only. For now, international prices remain unaffected, although Microsoft had previously raised prices globally during the May adjustments.
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