Xbox Series X/S prices spike in the UK, here’s who’s to blame

Microsoft has increased the price of its Xbox Series consoles, and they are certifiably insane

On August 1st, Microsoft gave its Xbox Series X and S consoles new prices in the UK, Europe and the US. The price of DRAM, NAND, and other vital components has increased, with AI datacenter buildouts causing a global component shortage. Compared with launch, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S prices have increased by £220 and £180 respectively. That means that an Xbox Series S now costs £20 less than a launch day Xbox Series X. That’s insanity.

This is the first console generation where gaming hardware has become more expensive after launch. Typically, the technology inside modern consoles becomes less expensive as they age. It is also common for console makers to create a newer, cost-reduced version of consoles by leveraging new, more efficient CPU/graphics chips. Unfortunately, this console generation has been hit by technological slowdowns and rampant component price increases. Together, these forces have made now a terrible time to buy a new console.

Who’s to blame for all of this?

While it is convenient to simply blame AI for these price increases, Microsoft itself is not innocent. Microsoft is a major investor in OpenAI. It has also invested in Anthropic. Microsoft is also a major contributor to the global memory shortage, as it invests in building datacenters as part of its Azure expansion plans. These datacenters power AI and directly contribute to the memory/component shortage that’s hitting Xbox.

If Xbox fans want someone to blame for Xbox consoles being so expensive, the answer is Microsoft. While you can’t really blame them for passing the increased cost of their goods onto consumers, they are a big part of the reason why those parts are so expensive to begin with. Add on Microsoft’s layoffs across Xbox, and it is easy to see why many Xbox fans currently hate Microsoft. Add on the poor state of Windows, and it’s easy to see why most gamers currently dislike the company.

Xbox Prices in the UK and other regions

Here’s a look at Microsoft’s new Xbox prices in the UK, US, and Europe. Note that prior prices come from June/July, not launch day.

US:

• Xbox Series S (512GB) – $499.99 (was $399.99)
• Xbox Series S (1TB) – $599.99 ($449.99)
• Xbox Series X (1TB, Digital) – $749.99 (was $599.99)
• Xbox Series X (1TB, Disc) – $799.99 (was $649.99)

Europe:

• Xbox Series S (512GB) – €499.99 (was €349.99)
• Xbox Series S (1TB) – €599.99 (was €399.99)
• Xbox Series X (1TB, Digital) – €749.99 (was €549.99)
• Xbox Series X (1TB, Disc) – €799.99 (was €599.99)

UK:

• Xbox Series S (512GB) – £429.99 (was £299.99)
• Xbox Series S (1TB) – £519.99 (was £349.99)
• Xbox Series X (1TB, Digital) – £619.99 (was £449.99)
• Xbox Series X (1TB, Disc) – £669.99 (was £499.99)

You can join the discussion on Microsoft’s latest Xbox price increase on the OC3D Forums.