Microsoft is raising Xbox Series console prices worldwide again on 1 August, with some models jumping by as much as $150. The company says the move is being driven by sharply higher memory and storage costs, and it affects the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X lineup across multiple variants.
The Xbox Series S with 512 GB will rise by $100 to $499.99, while all Xbox Series X models and the 1 TB Xbox Series S will go up by $150. The 2 TB Xbox Series X is also being discontinued, which means the premium end of the lineup is getting smaller as well as more expensive.
Xbox Series S and Series X new prices
- Xbox Series S, 512 GB: $499.99, up $100
- Xbox Series S, 1 TB: up $150
- Xbox Series X: up $150
- Xbox Series X, 2 TB: discontinued
Microsoft blames memory and storage costs
Microsoft said component prices for memory and storage have risen more than 2.5 times, and it expects another doubling by autumn 2027. That fits a broader industry pattern: consoles are often sold below cost, so rising component bills hit them harder than phones, laptops, or smart speakers, where manufacturers have more room to absorb the pain.
This is the third time Microsoft has lifted Xbox prices globally. It already raised them in May last year, then added another increase in the US in October. Sony has also nudged PlayStation pricing in some regions, so Xbox buyers are not exactly being singled out here, just asked to pay more for the privilege of waiting through a supply-chain headache.
Microsoft is pairing higher prices with financing and refurbished deals
To soften the blow, Microsoft is expanding payment options and second-hand sales. The company says Xbox hardware bought through Microsoft stores can now be split into predictable short-term interest-free payments, while Amazon customers can use interest-free credit for up to 12 months. It is also working with retail partners on trade-in and resale programs, and certified refurbished Xbox consoles in Microsoft stores in the US will be discounted by up to $100.
That is a sensible bit of damage control, but it also underlines the point: Microsoft knows sticker shock is the story here. The open question is whether financing and refurbished stock will actually broaden the audience, or just make the new prices feel a little less brutal at checkout.