Microsoft has announced that the price of their Xbox consoles is rising in the UK and abroad amid tariff uncertainties
Microsoft has confirmed that the price of its Xbox Series consoles will rise significantly in May, 2025, which it blamed on the current economic uncertainties due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
From the start of May, the base level of an Xbox Series S will increase by £50 up to £300.
The ‘elite’ version of the console, the Xbox Series X, is also going up in price by £20 to £500.
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As for storage size models of the Xbox S and X consoles, as well as the disc-free Series X, they will also see price increases, with the latter now rising by £20 to £450.
It isn’t just the UK that is seeing the console’s price skyrocket, as other countries have also been hit with the cost increase due to rising global prices in the wake of US tariff plans.
In a blog post shared by Microsoft on the Xbox website, they explained: “As of May 1, we have adjusted recommended retailer pricing for our consoles and controllers worldwide.
“We also expect to adjust the pricing of some of our new, first-party games starting this holiday season to $79.99.
“Those titles purchased on the Xbox Store have the benefit of Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing players to buy once and play on console and PC at no additional cost.
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.
It comes after rival gaming company Sony announced price hikes back in April, with the PS5 Digital Edition rising to £429.99.
The Disc Drive for the PS5 got a decrease in value though, with it now being listed for £69.99.
In a similar blog post by PlayStation, they explained the the “challenging economic market” was to blame for the price jump.
It read: “With a backdrop of a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates, SIE has made the tough decision to raise the recommended retail price (RRP) of the PlayStation 5 console in select markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Australia and New Zealand.
