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Microsoft Increases Xbox Series Prices, Games to Reach $80 This Holiday Season

Author：Kristen Update：May 14,2025

Microsoft has announced a significant price increase across its Xbox ecosystem, affecting consoles, controllers, headsets, and select games. Starting today, May 1, these price hikes will take effect globally, with the exception of headset price increases, which are limited to the U.S. and Canada. While current game prices remain unchanged, Microsoft plans to introduce new first-party titles at $79.99 during the upcoming holiday season.

Here's a detailed look at the new pricing for various Xbox products in the U.S.:

Xbox Series S 512 - $379.99 (previously $299.99)
Xbox Series S 1TB - $429.99 (previously $349.99)
Xbox Series X Digital - $549.99 (previously $449.99)
Xbox Series X - $599.99 (previously $499.99)
Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Special Edition - $729.99 (previously $599.99)
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 (previously $79.99)
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Core) - $149.99 (previously $139.99)
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Full) - $199.99 (previously $179.99)
Xbox Stereo Headset - $64.99
Xbox Wireless Headset - $119.99 (previously $109.99)

For a comprehensive list of price changes across different regions, you can visit the official Xbox announcement page here.

Microsoft provided IGN with the following statement regarding the price increases:

“We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development. Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players.”

While the specific titles that will see the $80 price point have not been confirmed, potential candidates might include the next mainline Call of Duty, the delayed Fable set for 2026, the Perfect Dark reboot, inXile’s Clockwork Revolution, Rare's Everwild, The Coalition's Gears of War: E-Day, Hideo Kojima’s OD, and Undead Labs' State of Decay 3. Double Fine is also developing a new game that might join this list.

More details on these titles and others are expected to be revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct in June.

This marks the first price increase for Xbox Series S consoles since their launch in 2020, despite Microsoft's commitment to maintain prices in 2022 when PlayStation raised PS5 prices. However, the Xbox Series X saw a global price increase in 2023, excluding the U.S., and Xbox Game Pass has experienced multiple global price hikes.

The move by Microsoft is part of a broader trend in the gaming industry, with PlayStation recently increasing prices in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Over the past few years, AAA game prices have risen from $60 to $70, and Nintendo has set $80 as the price for upcoming Switch 2 exclusives like Mario Kart World. The Switch 2 itself is set to launch at $450, a price that has drawn criticism despite being considered inevitable given current economic conditions.

Nintendo's pricing strategy was further complicated by fluctuating U.S. tariffs, leading to adjustments in accessory prices while the console's price remained at $450. The Entertainment Software Association has indicated that these economic pressures will impact the entire gaming industry, regardless of the company:

“You know what? It's been interesting with media coverage around video games and tariffs because just unfortunate coincidental timing that the Switch [2 reveal] was the same day as President Trump's announcement. There are so many devices we play video games on. There are other consoles, but as I was saying, VR headsets, our smartphones, people who love PC games, if we think it's just the Switch, then we aren't taking it seriously. This is going to have an impact.
“And even American-based companies, they're getting products that need to cross into American borders to make those consoles, to make those games. And so there's going to be a real impact regardless of company. This is company-agnostic, this is an entire industry. There's going to be an impact on the entire industry.”

In these challenging economic times, gamers across all platforms are feeling the pinch of rising costs.