If you’ve been considering purchasing an Xbox Series X, it would be wise to do so before the end of July, unless you reside in the US, Japan, Chile, Brazil, or Colombia. Microsoft has confirmed that it will be raising the price of the console in most other countries.
Beginning August 1st, the Xbox Series X will be priced at $650 CAD in Canada, £480 in the UK, €550 in various European countries, and $800 AUD in Australia. These price increases are comparable to the adjustments made by Sony for the PS5 in most markets last year.
“We have maintained our console prices for many years and have adjusted them to align with competitive conditions in each market,” stated Kari Perez, Xbox’s communications chief, in an interview with The Verge. “These Game Pass price adjustments are unrelated to the Activision Blizzard deal and are intended to match the local market conditions.”
The pricing for the Xbox Series S will remain the same across all markets at $250 (or the equivalent in local currency). Microsoft will also introduce a new black model with 1TB of storage, priced at $349.
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Microsoft’s own studios are no longer developing games for the Xbox One. If you’re not interested in purchasing a Series X or S, you can still stream upcoming games like Starfield and Fable to the older console through Game Pass Ultimate. However, there’s news for you as well—this service is also experiencing a price increase, including in the US.
Xbox Game Pass will soon be priced at $11 per month, a $1 increase, while Game Pass Ultimate will see a larger jump from $15 to $17 per month. The Verge has compiled a list of price increases for other markets. The price of PC Game Pass, which doubled from $5 to $10 per month in 2020, will remain unchanged, and Xbox Game Pass will not see an increase in Norway, Chile, Denmark, Switzerland, or Saudi Arabia.
These price adjustments will be effective for new Xbox Game Pass members starting July 6th. Existing subscribers will not be affected until August 13th (September 13th in Germany). If you have access to Game Pass through an annual code, the price changes will not impact you until it’s time to renew.
This marks the first time that Microsoft has increased Game Pass pricing since its introduction in 2017 as part of the transition away from Xbox Live Gold. However, it was inevitable that prices would eventually rise, given the significant role Game Pass plays in Xbox’s business model.
Conversely, one might have expected the price of the Xbox Series X to decrease at this stage of its lifecycle, rather than increase. Microsoft cannot attribute this to a shortage of consoles—Xbox head Phil Spencer recently stated that the company had increased the supply of Xbox Series X/S. Instead, Microsoft suggests that the increase in Series X pricing is due to market conditions such as inflation and currency fluctuations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Xbox Series X and Game Pass pricing
Q: When will the price increase for Xbox Series X and Game Pass take effect?
A: The price increase for Xbox Series X and Game Pass will take effect on August 1st, 2023, for most countries.
Q: Which countries will experience the price increase for Xbox Series X?
A: The price increase for Xbox Series X will affect most countries, except for the United States, Japan, Chile, Brazil, and Colombia.
Q: How much will the Xbox Series X cost after the price increase?
A: After the price increase, the Xbox Series X will be priced at $650 CAD in Canada, £480 in the UK, €550 in most European countries, and $800 AUD in Australia.
Q: Will the price of Xbox Series S be affected by the price increase?
A: No, the price of Xbox Series S will remain the same across all markets at $250 (or the equivalent in local currency).
Q: How much will the price of Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate increase?
A: Xbox Game Pass will increase by $1 per month, making it $11 per month. Game Pass Ultimate will see a larger jump from $15 per month to $17 per month.
Q: Will existing subscribers be affected by the price increase immediately?
A: Existing subscribers will not be affected by the price increase until August 13th, 2023 (September 13th in Germany). New subscribers will experience the new prices starting from July 6th, 2023.
Q: Are there any exceptions to the price increase for Xbox Game Pass?
A: Yes, the price of Xbox Game Pass will not increase in Norway, Chile, Denmark, Switzerland, or Saudi Arabia. However, other markets will experience the price adjustment.
Q: Why is Microsoft increasing the prices for Xbox Series X and Game Pass?
A: Microsoft states that the price adjustments are made to reflect competitive conditions in each market and match local market conditions, unrelated to the Activision Blizzard deal. Factors like inflation and currency fluctuations are also cited as reasons for the price increase.
1 comment
Dang, Xbox Series X gettin’ pricier in most countries? Better grab one before it’s too late. It’s like they’re playin’ with our wallets, man. But hey, at least Xbox Game Pass still got some good ol’ prices in a few countries. Gotta find the silver linin’, ya know?