GoKawiilis a senior reporter covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme.
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Microsoft is increasing the prices of Xbox consoles again. Starting August 1st, 512GB models will be $100 more expensive, while 1TB models will be $150 more expensive. This means that the Xbox Series S will start at $499.99, the Xbox Series X without a disc drive will start at $749.99, and the Series X with a disc drive will start at $799.99. Microsoft also says it will be “sunsetting” its 2TB Xbox Series X.
“Last October, we increased XBOX console price by $20-$70 in the U.S.,” Microsoft says in a blog post. “We hoped another price increase would not be necessary, and we have spent the last several months working with suppliers on options. Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027. The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles. Unlike phones, computers, speakers, and other consumer devices, consoles are typically not sold at a profit, but instead for less than they cost to make.”
The company is also introducing new programs to try and make new Xboxes more affordable, including a buy now, pay later option, interest-free financing as an option if you buy on Amazon, and plans with retail partners to make “new programs to provide previously played consoles at lower prices.”
Microsoft initially launched the Xbox Series S at $299 and the Series X at $499 in November 2020. But in recent years, the company has had to raise console prices multiple times due to things like the component crisis — a crisis that is forcing basically every technology company to raise prices, including Apple.
The Xbox price hikes are coming at a particularly difficult time for Xbox as a whole. New Xbox boss Asha Sharma recently warned employees of an impending Xbox “reset” as it prepares for layoffs.
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