Microsoft recently announced an increase in the price of Xbox consoles, equipment and games, which caused reactions from the gaming community across Europe. The announcements include price increases for the most popular console models. Namely, the price of the Xbox Series S with 512GB memory went up from €299.99 to €349.99, while the model with 1TB memory now costs €399.99. The standard Xbox Series X console went up in price from €549.99 to €599.99, and the fully digital version is €549.99. The special edition, Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black, is now on sale for €699.99.
Along with consoles, accompanying equipment and upcoming games are also becoming more expensive. The basic Xbox Wireless Controller now costs €64.99, while the Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 reaches a price of €199.99. Also, new first-party games will be launched at a price of €79.99, which further affects players' budgets. With this move, the company is trying to offset rising production and development costs.
The price increase comes in response to global challenges, including inflation, exchange rate changes and customs conditions, all of which affect hardware and content prices. Players must adapt to the new economic reality that is shaping the gaming market.
The changes are expected to affect future innovations in gaming as well, thus encouraging the industry to evolve faster, significantly.
