May 1, 2025 - Business
Microsoft raises Xbox prices due to tariffs
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Xbox consoles are now $80 to $100 more per model. Phil Barker/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Microsoft raised the recommended retail prices of its Xbox video game consoles and some controllers globally, the company announced on Thursday.
Why it matters: The tech giant didn't reference the impact of tariffs specifically, but its updated support page cited changing "market conditions."
- Tariffs are affecting game companies across the board – Nintendo also announced price hikes for its accessories due to an almost identically phrased "change in market conditions."
- Microsoft also attributes pricing changes to the "rising cost of development."
- "Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players," the page says.
State of play: Xbox consoles are now $80 to $100 more per model.
- Microsoft's entry-level Xbox Series S now costs $379.99, an $80 increase from its previous sticker price of $299.99.
- The Xbox Series X is now $599.99, up $100 from its previous $499.99.
- The company also said that its recommended prices for new games will be $79.99 "starting this holiday season." The price of existing games will not change, per Microsoft.
- The price of the special edition Xbox Wireless Controller will increase to $79.99, a $10 increase from its previous $69.99 price point.
- The full list of pricing changes in various territories can be found on Microsoft's support page.
Zoom out: Even if they're not spelling out the role of President Trump's tariffs, companies are bracing for the impact on the coming holiday season.
- Nintendo initially delayed preorders for its hotly anticipated Switch 2 by two weeks, and although the price of the console remains unaffected, accessories received price markups.
- Trump acknowledged on Wednesday that toy shortages are possible.
- "Somebody said, 'oh, the shelves are gonna be open,'" Trump told reporters. "Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more."
