Microsoft has announced a global price increase for all Xbox Series consoles and several key accessories, effective May 1, 2025. This shift in pricing comes alongside confirmation that new first-party Xbox games will be priced at $79.99 starting from the 2025 holiday season. According to the company, these changes reflect rising development costs and evolving market dynamics.
In the United States, the Xbox Series S and Series X lines have seen substantial hikes. The Xbox Series S 512GB model, previously sold at $299.99, now retails for $379.99, while the 1TB version jumps from $349.99 to $429.99. The standard Xbox Series X is now priced at $599.99, a $100 increase from its original $499.99 price point. A new digital-only Xbox Series X variant is also available for $549.99, and the 2TB Galaxy Special Edition model sees its price increase to $729.99.
In terms of accessories, various Xbox Wireless Controllers have also been impacted. The standard core model remains at $64.99, while colored versions now cost $69.99. Special Editions are priced at $79.99, and Limited Editions have increased to $89.99. The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core now retails for $149.99, while the full version is listed at $199.99. Headsets have also been affected, with the Xbox Wireless Headset now priced at $119.99 in the U.S. and Canada.
Microsoft emphasized that the decision to raise prices of Xbox consoles and accessories was not made lightly. The company cited increased production and development costs as contributing factors, particularly in the face of economic shifts and rising inflation. Additionally, the upcoming increase in game prices will apply only to new first-party titles, affecting both physical and digital editions. However, the company reiterated that the Xbox Play Anywhere initiative will still be in effect, meaning a single purchase grants access to both console and PC versions.
Updated U.S. Pricing for Microsoft Xbox Products (Effective May 1, 2025)
Consoles:
- Xbox Series S 512GB – $379.99 (up from $299.99)
- Xbox Series S 1TB – $429.99 (up from $349.99)
- Xbox Series X Digital – $549.99 (up from $449.99)
- Xbox Series X – $599.99 (up from $499.99)
- Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition – $729.99 (up from $599.99)
Controllers:
- Xbox Wireless Controller (Core) – $64.99
- Xbox Wireless Controller (Color) – $69.99
- Xbox Wireless Controller (Special Edition) – $79.99
- Xbox Wireless Controller (Limited Edition) – $89.99 (up from $79.99)
- Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Core) – $149.99 (up from $139.99)
- Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Full) – $199.99 (up from $179.99)
Headsets (U.S. and Canada only):
- Xbox Stereo Headset – $64.99
- Xbox Wireless Headset – $119.99 (up from $109.99)
The price hike for first-party Xbox games is significant because Nintendo is the first major company to charge $80 for its titles, starting with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2.
Sony’s PlayStation was the first to raise game prices to $70, a move later matched by other publishers. With Nintendo and Xbox pushing prices even higher, industry watchers expect Sony and others may follow suit, though no official announcements have been made yet.
