Xbox has raised prices twice in the period covered by the headline. The first round, announced May 1, 2025, changed recommended retail prices for consoles and controllers and set a $79.99 price for select first-party games in the 2025 holiday season. The second, announced June 25, 2026, raises worldwide console prices effective August 1, 2026: US$100 more for 512 GB models and US$150 more for 1 TB models, with the 2 TB model discontinued. If you are buying an Xbox today, the 2026 console change is the one that affects your price. The May 2025 figures are historical and should not be treated as current.
What changed in May 2025
On May 1, 2025, Microsoft published worldwide recommended retail price changes for Xbox consoles and controllers. The US recommended retail sheet dated that day is the clearest record of what changed. AP reported that Microsoft also set price adjustments for Europe, the United Kingdom and Australia, with local updates planned for other countries. The reports reviewed for this article do not list the local-currency figures for those markets, so any price in euros, pounds or Australian dollars from that announcement should be checked against Microsoft’s regional store.
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The accessories were the category least affected by the later console changes, and their May 2025 US recommended prices are below. These are recommended retail prices from that sheet, not guaranteed retailer prices on that date.
| Accessory (US, May 1, 2025) | Recommended retail price |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core | $149.99 |
| Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Full | $199.99 |
| Xbox Stereo Headset | $64.99 |
| Xbox Wireless Headset | $119.99 |
Game prices: the $79.99 plan for select first-party games
Microsoft also planned to charge $79.99 for select new first-party games during the 2025 holiday season. AP reported the price as $79.99, and GameSpot reported it as $80. The plan applied to a subset of Microsoft-published titles, not to the Xbox catalogue as a whole, and the reports reviewed do not identify which games were affected. A game’s listed price in your store is the only reliable check.
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Why Microsoft says prices went up
The 2025 explanation: market conditions and development costs
AP reported Microsoft’s stated reason for the May 2025 changes as “market conditions and the rising cost of development.” The company also said, in AP’s account, “We understand that these changes are challenging.” That report did not cite tariffs as a cause, so tariffs should not be presented as Microsoft’s explanation for the 2025 increases.
The 2026 explanation: storage and memory costs
The June 25, 2026 Xbox Wire post, titled “Updated XBOX Console Prices,” attributes the new increase to component costs. It states: “Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027.” This is Microsoft’s own description of its component costs and its expectation for future prices. It is not an independently verified measure of memory or storage pricing.
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Console prices: May 2025, October 2025 and the August 2026 change
The table compares Microsoft’s US console figures across three points: the May 2025 recommended retail sheet, a later US console sheet dated October 3, 2025, and the increase announced for August 1, 2026. The October 2025 sheet shows that US console prices had already risen again after the May announcement, so the May figures are not the baseline for anything bought now.
| Console | US RRP, May 1, 2025 | US RRP, October 3, 2025 | Change announced for August 1, 2026 | Arithmetic on October 2025 US price (not a published price) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S 512 GB | $379.99 | $399.99 | +$100 | $499.99 |
| Xbox Series S 1 TB | $429.99 | $449.99 | +$150 | $599.99 |
| Xbox Series X Digital | $549.99 | $599.99 | Not stated in the announcement as reported | Not stated |
| Xbox Series X | $599.99 | $649.99 | Not stated in the announcement as reported | Not stated |
| Xbox Series X 2 TB Galaxy Black Special Edition | $729.99 | $799.99 | Model to be sunset | Not applicable |
The announcement described its increases by storage tier, 512 GB and 1 TB, and the reports reviewed do not map the Series X models to those tiers. The arithmetic column applies the stated dollar increase to the October 2025 US list price. It is a calculation only; Microsoft did not publish these figures, and actual shelf or checkout prices may differ.
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- 1TB CUSTOM SSD AND XBOX VELOCITY ARCHITECTURE — Reduce load times dramatically with the custom 1TB NVMe SSD and XBOX Velocity Architecture, enabling lightning-fast performance and seamless world streaming.
- QUICK RESUME — Seamlessly switch between multiple games and resume exactly where you left off. No more waiting through title screens and loading bars.
- FOUR GENERATIONS OF GAMES — Play thousands of games from XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX 360, and Original XBOX, with many titles enhanced for better visuals and performance on XBOX Series X. This is an all-digital console; use with digital games only. Console does not play physical discs.
The increases were announced as worldwide. The August 1, 2026 date has passed as of this article, so the new prices should be in effect unless Microsoft has announced a further change. Confirm the price on the Microsoft Store or your retailer before buying.
Financing and lower-cost options
Xbox Wire described several ways to reduce the upfront cost, and the terms differ by country:
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- Jump seamlessly between your favourite game, TV show or movie
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- Buy now, pay later: offered in some markets. Check the checkout page for the providers and terms available where you live.
- 0% APR financing: described as eligible for up to 12 months through partners. Eligibility depends on the partner and your region.
- Certified Refurbished Consoles: sold through Microsoft Stores at up to US$100 off MSRP, according to the June 2026 post. Stock is not guaranteed.
- Previously played consoles and trade-ins: Microsoft said it is working with retail partners on these, but the post did not name them.
What the published record does not settle
- Current live prices at any retailer. The figures here are recommended retail prices from dated sheets and a company announcement.
- A country-by-country price list. AP’s 2025 report named Europe, the UK and Australia, and said other countries would follow locally, but the local figures are not in the reports reviewed.
- The titles that carried the $79.99 or $80 price during the 2025 holiday season.
- Prices for the Series X Digital and Series X under the 2026 increase, which the announcement does not map to a storage tier in the reports reviewed.
For the most accurate figure in your country, compare the official Xbox store price with the one at your retailer, and check the effective date on any price you see quoted.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- FASTEST, MOST POWERFUL XBOX — Experience next-generation performance with 12 teraflops of processing power, delivering smoother gameplay, richer worlds, and faster responsiveness than any previous XBOX.
- TRUE 4K GAMING UP TO 120 FPS — Enjoy breathtaking visuals with true 4K resolution, HDR, and frame rates up to 120 FPS, plus hardware-accelerated ray tracing for a heightened level of realism.
- 1TB CUSTOM SSD AND XBOX VELOCITY ARCHITECTURE — Reduce load times dramatically with the custom 1TB NVMe SSD and XBOX Velocity Architecture, enabling lightning-fast performance and seamless world streaming.
- QUICK RESUME — Seamlessly switch between multiple games and resume exactly where you left off. No more waiting through title screens and loading bars.
- FOUR GENERATIONS OF GAMES — Play thousands of games from XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX 360, and Original XBOX, with many titles enhanced for better visuals and performance on XBOX Series X.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
