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Waiting can cost more if you buy a console after a manufacturer’s announced price increase takes effect—but it is not guaranteed to raise your actual checkout price. In 2026, Nintendo, Sony and Xbox announced higher U.S. recommended prices for several consoles. Retail discounts, regional pricing, stock and whether you are open to refurbished or previously played hardware can change what you pay.
What changed in 2026?
The announced figures below are manufacturer prices, not live retailer prices. A store may charge less or more, and your total may also depend on taxes, bundles and stock.
| Console | Announced price change | Effective date | Scope and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch 2 | U.S. MSRP rose from $449.99 to $499.99, a $50 increase | September 1, 2026 | U.S. MSRP; Nintendo of America announcement |
| PS5 | U.S. recommended retail price: $649.99 | April 2, 2026 | Sony also listed prices for the U.K., Europe and Japan; see its regional price announcement |
| PS5 Digital Edition | U.S. recommended retail price: $599.99 | April 2, 2026 | U.S. recommended price; Sony announcement |
| PS5 Pro | U.S. recommended retail price: $899.99 | April 2, 2026 | U.S. recommended price; Sony announcement |
| Xbox Series S|X | Increase of US$100 for 512 GB models and US$150 for 1 TB models | August 1, 2026 | Xbox described a worldwide update relative to existing model pricing, not one universal checkout price; see its announcement |
Nintendo’s May 7, 2026 announcement specified the U.S. Switch 2 MSRP; it said Latin American pricing would be shared later. Xbox also said it would sunset its 2 TB model. Check the manufacturer’s current regional listing and the retailer’s price for the exact model you want.
Should you buy now or wait?
Base the decision on the price and condition you can actually get, not only on a headline MSRP. If a price increase has already taken effect, waiting for a sale may still work—but the manufacturer’s higher recommended price can change the starting point. Before an announced future increase takes effect, a current retailer price below the new MSRP may make buying sooner worthwhile, provided you would use the console now.
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- Consider buying sooner if you have settled on a model, found a good in-stock price, and value playing now. Compare the retailer’s checkout total with the relevant new recommended price, not just the old MSRP.
- Consider waiting if you do not need the console yet, expect a sale, or are willing to consider a different model or used hardware. A future discount is possible, but not guaranteed by these announcements.
- Recheck your country and model. Announced prices vary by region and console configuration; do not apply a U.S. price or a storage-tier increase to a different market or model.
How to compare the real cost
- Choose the exact console and condition. Identify the model and storage configuration, and decide whether new, certified refurbished or previously played hardware is acceptable.
- Check whether the announced change is in effect. Use the manufacturer’s announcement for the effective date and the price that applies in your region.
- Compare current checkout totals. Check more than one retailer for the same model and condition, including any delivery charges, taxes and bundle contents. MSRP is not necessarily the price a store charges.
- Read the terms on lower-cost hardware. For refurbished or previously played consoles, check warranty coverage, return window, included accessories and condition description before comparing prices.
- Count the value of playing sooner. If waiting saves money but also delays games you want to play, weigh that delay against the likely price difference. Do not assume a particular future sale, shortage or launch date.
What the price announcements do—and do not—tell you
The announcements establish that major manufacturers raised recommended prices for specified products and regions in 2026. They do not establish that every console purchase becomes more expensive over time, or that a particular shopper would have paid less by buying earlier. No independent study measuring how often waiting makes console purchases cost more is identified here, so these announcements should not be treated as a market-wide trend statistic.
Xbox attributed its change partly to rising component costs. Team Xbox said console storage and memory prices had increased by more than 2.5 times and expected another doubling by fall 2027. That is the company’s statement and forward-looking expectation, not an independent market-wide measurement or a guarantee of future console prices.
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Lower-cost Xbox options
Xbox says certified refurbished consoles are available through Microsoft Stores for up to US$100 off MSRP and that it is working with retail partners on lower-priced previously played consoles. These are possible alternatives, not a promise of current stock in every market. Check the live listing and its warranty and return terms before treating the discount as an available option.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
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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.
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