Again? Microsoft Iss…
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For the second time this year, Microsoft is raising prices for its Xbox consoles in the US.
The company made the announcement on a support page. The Xbox Series X is increasing by $50. Meanwhile, the Xbox Series S will soon cost $20 more. Here’s a full breakdown:
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Xbox Series S (512GB): New $399.99 | Current $379.99 | April $299.99
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Xbox Series S (1TB): New $449.99 | Current $429.99 | April $349.99
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Xbox Series X Digital: New $599.99 | Current $549.99 | April $449.99
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Xbox Series X: New $649.99 | Current $599.99 | April $499.99
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Xbox Series X (2TB Galaxy Black): New $799 | Current $729.99 | April $599.99
The good news is that the price hikes don’t go into effect until Oct. 3, so you still have time to snag an Xbox console at a lower price. “Pricing for controllers and headsets will remain the same,” the support page adds.
Why another price hike? Microsoft is vague, blaming “changes in the macroeconomic environment.” However, it’s only happening for US consumers, suggesting Trump’s tariffs played a role. Daniel Ahmad, a video games analyst at Niko Partners, directly blamed the tariffs, which are currently imposing a 30% duty on imports from China and a 20% rate on imports from Vietnam — two major manufacturers of video game hardware.
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Microsoft didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about tariffs. But in the support page, the company said: “We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration. Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and providing value for Xbox players.”
PlayStation fans haven’t been able to dodge the price hikes. Last month, Sony instituted its own increase for the PS5 in the US. Nintendo has only increased prices for the older Switch 1 console, not the newly released Switch 2. But Ahmad says it’s possible Nintendo will eventually resort to a price increase next year to offset the tariffs.
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Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
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I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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