Potential Xbox Price Increase Whispers Grow Louder
Whispers of a potential Xbox Series X and Series S price increase are louder than ever following a high-profile European retailer's recent move.
News filtered through online, prominently on the ResetERA forums, to report that French big-box chain Micromania increased prices of both Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. Overnight it seems, all stock configurations of the consoles saw their price increase by €50. The reported changes are:
- Xbox Series X: 549.99€ -> 599.99€
- Xbox Series S 512GB: 299,99€ -> 349,99€
- Xbox Series S 1TB: 349.99€ -> 399.99€
Why this matters. The timing, being at the start of a new month, has led numerous individuals to suspect that this isn't a one-time anomaly for the retailer. It could be a sign that Micromania is stocking up ahead of time in preparation for Microsoft to announce a more broad price increase, which may not be far away.
Deja Vu: Flashback to PS5 Price Adjustment
This all too familiar. We've just seen Sony bump the price of the PlayStation 5 (of course, the Digital Edition in most jurisdictions outside of the US). Sony blamed the difficult global economic climate, employing high inflation and unstable currency exchange rates as its principal reasons.
It would not be a big surprise, therefore, if Microsoft also did the same. Producing and selling consoles at a stable price is getting more and more challenging for makers in today's global economic situation. Although no one wishes to pay extra, the financial burden is real.
The Bigger Picture: The Rising Cost of Gaming.
This potential Xbox price hike is just part of a larger trend. Console hardware seems to be getting more expensive all around. Even the allegedly launched price of the Nintendo Switch 2 was higher than many anticipated, which means that the next Sony and Microsoft consoles may also carry higher prices than their ancestors. While handheld options might offer some relief, the days of consistently priced flagship consoles may be behind us.
For now, this is still a rumor on the part of one retailer. But maybe the writing is on the wall. See if there's any word from Microsoft in the days or weeks to come.
