If you're interested in getting an Xbox Series X, it might be wise to do so by the end of July, unless you're in the US, Japan, Chile, Brazil, or Colombia. Microsoft confirmed to Engadget that it's increasing the price of the console in most other countries.
See also: Xbox Series X/S: How to update your consoles?
Starting August 1, the Xbox Series X will cost $650 CAD in Canada, £480 in the UK, €550 in most European countries, and $800 AUD in Australia. The increases are roughly in line with the PS5 price changes Sony made in most markets last year.
“We’ve been keeping our console prices consistent for many years and adjusting prices to reflect competitive conditions in each market,” Xbox communications chief Kari Perez told The Verge. “These Game Pass price adjustments are not related to the Activision Blizzard and are intended to reflect local market conditions.”
The Xbox Series S price remains the same across all markets at $250 (or local equivalent). Microsoft will soon introduce a black model with 1TB for $349.
Microsoft's own studios are no longer making games for the Xbox One. If you don't want to buy a Series X or S, you can still stream upcoming games like Starfield and Fable on the older console via Game Pass Ultimate. But guess what? The price of that service is also going up, including in the US.
Suggestion: Xbox Game Pass: $1 offer ends
Xbox Game Pass will soon cost $11 per month, a $1 increase. Game Pass Ultimate is taking a bigger jump, from $15 per month to $17. The Verge has a list of price increases for other markets. The price of PC Game Pass (which doubled from $5 to $10 per month in 2020) is unchanged, while Xbox Game Pass won't increase in Norway, Chile, Denmark, Switzerland, or Saudi Arabia.
The price changes will go into effect for new Xbox Game Pass members on July 6. For existing subscribers, they will be in effect until August 13 (September 13 in Germany). If you happen to have access to Game Pass via an annual code, the price changes won't affect you until it's time to renew.
This is the first time Microsoft has increased Game Pass prices since it introduced the service in 2017 as part of the transition from Xbox Live Gold. Still, it was inevitable that prices would go up at some point. The importance of Game Pass to Xbox's business model was undoubtedly a factor in the decision.
Instead, you would expect the Xbox Series X price to drop at this point in its lifecycle, not increase. Microsoft can't blame the console shortages — Xbox chief Phil Spencer recently said the company has increased the quantity of Xbox Series X/S units. Instead, Microsoft suggested that the Series X increase was due to market conditions, such as inflation and currency fluctuations.
Read also: Microsoft: Refreshes Xbox Home UI
source of information:engadget.com
