Microsoft’s May 2025 price update raised recommended prices for Xbox consoles and controllers worldwide, with selected accessories also affected. Its game-price announcement was narrower: some new first-party games in the U.S. were expected to cost $79.99 during the 2025 holiday season. A separate console increase took effect worldwide on August 1, 2026, so the May 2025 prices are historical—not today’s prices.
How much did Xbox prices go up?
There was no single worldwide increase amount: Microsoft set recommended prices by market and currency, and the May 2025 lists varied by model and region. For example, Microsoft’s U.S. sheet, effective May 1, 2025, listed the Series S 512 GB at $379.99 and Series X at $599.99. These are dated recommended prices, not current quotes.
Microsoft’s June 25, 2026 announcement set another worldwide console increase, effective August 1, 2026: $100 more for 512 GB models and $150 more for 1 TB models. The announcement also said the 2 TB model would be sunset. These are announced U.S.-dollar increments; local prices may differ by market.
May 2025 recommended prices by market
The regional sheets below show listed prices effective May 1, 2025, except Australia, whose sheet was dated May 2. They are useful as a historical reference, not as current store prices.
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| Model | United States | Europe | United Kingdom | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series S 512 GB | $379.99 | €349.99 | £299.99 | A$549 |
| Series S 1 TB | $429.99 | €399.99 | £349.99 | A$599 |
| Series X Digital | $549.99 | €549.99 | £449.99 | A$749 |
| Series X | $599.99 | €599.99 | £499.99 | A$849 |
| Series X 2 TB Galaxy Black | $729.99 | €699.99 | £589.99 | A$1,049 |
Sources: Microsoft’s U.S. price sheet, Europe price sheet, UK price sheet, and Australia price sheet.
May 2025 controller prices
Microsoft’s May 2025 sheets also listed controller price changes. The regional lists were not identical, particularly for special and limited editions.
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- What's in the box: Xbox Series X console, 1 Xbox Wireless Controller - Carbon Black, Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, Power cord.
- Equipped with AMD's Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architectures, DirectX ray tracing delivers true-to-life lighting, shadows and accurate reflections to create dynamic, living worlds.
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6 w/320 bit-wide bus; Memory Bandwidth: 10 GB @ 560 GB/s, 6 GB @ 336 GB/s; Internal Storage: 1TB Custom NVME SSD
- Gaming Resolution: True 4K; Performance Target: Up to 120 FPS; High Dynamic Range: Up to 8K HDR; Optical Drive: 4K UHD Blu-Ray; HDMI Features: Auto Low Latency Mode, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate, AMD FreeSync.
- Bundled with HDMI_Cable
| Controller | United States | Europe | United Kingdom | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Wireless Controller | $64.99 | €64.99 | £59.99 | A$99.95 |
| Color controller | $69.99 | €69.99 | £64.99 | A$104.95 |
| Special Edition | $79.99 | €79.99 | £74.99 | A$119.95 |
| Limited Edition | $89.99 | €89.99 | £74.99 | A$129.95 |
| Elite Series 2 Core | $149.99 | €149.99 | £124.99 | A$229.95 |
| Elite Series 2 Full | $199.99 | €199.99 | £169.99 | A$279.95 |
Sources: Microsoft’s regional May 2025 price sheets linked above. The U.S. sheet also listed the Stereo Headset at $64.99 and Wireless Headset at $119.99; the cited Europe, UK, and Australia lists do not establish comparable headset prices.
Did Xbox raise game prices too?
Microsoft’s 2025 statement concerned some new first-party games in the United States, which it planned to price at $79.99 during the 2025 holiday season. It was not an announcement that all Xbox games—or games in every country—had gone up. The amount is a planned U.S. price from 2025, not a general current price. The Associated Press reported the limited scope in its coverage of the announcement.
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- UP TO 120 FPS GAMEPLAY — Enjoy smooth, responsive gaming with frame rates up to 120 FPS, powered by XBOX Velocity Architecture, a custom NVMe SSD, and DirectX Raytracing for a heightened level of realism.
- 512GB CUSTOM SSD AND XBOX VELOCITY ARCHITECTURE — Reduce load times dramatically with the custom 512GB NVMe SSD and XBOX Velocity Architecture, enabling lightning-fast performance and seamless world streaming.
- QUICK RESUME — Seamlessly switch between multiple games and resume exactly where you left off. No more waiting through title screens and loading bars.
- FOUR GENERATIONS OF DIGITAL GAMES — Play thousands of digital games from XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX 360, and Original XBOX with backward compatibility. Many titles are enhanced for better visuals and performance. Smart Delivery ensures you always get the best version for your console.
Are Xbox prices going up worldwide?
Yes for the console changes announced in 2025 and 2026, but the details and timing differ. In May 2025, Microsoft raised recommended console and controller prices worldwide and changed prices for selected accessories; some accessories, including headsets, were affected in the U.S. and Canada. Local prices were set in local currency and varied by market. The 2026 announcement was a separate worldwide console increase effective August 1; it does not establish another controller or game increase.
Microsoft attributed the May 2025 pricing to market conditions and rising development costs, according to the Associated Press. AP also reported that Microsoft did not specifically cite tariffs in that explanation. For the 2026 console announcement, Xbox Wire said storage and memory prices had increased by more than 2.5 times and forecast another doubling by fall 2027. Those figures and the forecast are Microsoft’s statements, not independent measurements of industry-wide costs. See Xbox Wire’s June 25, 2026 announcement.
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- What's in the box: Xbox Series S 512GB console, 1 Wireless Controller, High Speed HDMI cable.
- CPU: 8X Cores @ 3.6 GHz (3.4 GHz w/SMT) Custom Zen 2 CPU; GPU: 4 TFLOPS, 20 CUs @1.565 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU; SOC Die Size: 197.05 mm2.
- Memory: 10GB GDDR6 128 bit-wide bus; Memory Bandwidth: 8GB @ 224 GB/s, 2GB @ 56 GB/s.; Internal Storage: 512GB Custom NVME SSD
- Gaming Resolution: 1440p; Performance Target: Up to 120 FPS; HDMI Features: Auto Low Latency Mode, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate, AMD FreeSync.
How much is an Xbox Series X now?
There is no single current price across countries, configurations, and retailers. The captured U.S. Microsoft Store listing showed Series X at $649.99 and Series S at $399.99; live prices can change, so check the listing for your market before buying. Microsoft describes Series X as offering native 4K, with selected models including a UHD Blu-ray drive; Series S is disc-free and targets 1440p with upscaling to 4K. See the Microsoft Store listing for current U.S. configurations and availability.
Should I buy an Xbox before prices go up?
The announced August 1, 2026 console increase has already taken effect. Whether to buy now depends on the price available in your country, the exact configuration, and whether a retailer has a discount or stock. Compare the total price of the model you want rather than relying on the 2025 recommended prices or assuming every store changed prices at the same time.
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- Check whether the Series X configuration has a disc drive if you want to use physical games or UHD Blu-ray discs; Series S is disc-free.
- Compare the current local price with the price you would actually pay, including taxes and delivery where applicable.
- If you can wait, consider whether you need the console now; a future sale is possible but not guaranteed.
- For a 2 TB Series X, confirm availability directly with retailers because Xbox Wire said that model would be sunset.
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.
