These countries will pay more for Xbox - are you affected?
While you might expect game consoles to come down in price a few years after they've released, Microsoft is doing the reverse and is hiking the price of the Xbox Series X. If you want to boot up the green team's new console, it might cost you a bit more...depending where you live.
Since the launch of the Xbox Series X and its little brother (the Series S) in November 2020, we've seen the gaming giant go head-to-head with Sony's PlayStation 5. Alongside boasting more memory and punch under the hood than the PS5, the Series X usually has a cheaper price tag. Well, not anymore
Microsoft just hiked the Xbox Series X price tag
Click to enlargeAs reported by The Verge, the Xbox Series X will likely cost you a little more if you're about to buy one. Moving in line with Sony's price hike from 2022, the Xbox Series X is increasing to £487.99 in the UK, €549.99 in most of the EU, $649.99 in Canada, and $799.99 in Australia. This is starting from August 1.
Discussing why the Xbox Series X is squeezing you for some pennies, Xbox Head of Communications Kari Perez explained, "We've held on our prices for consoles for many years and have adjusted the prices to reflect the competitive conditions in each market."
For the more budget conscious, there's good news that the Xbox Series S will retain its $299.99 price in all markets. The increases don't end here, and after Xbox Boss Phil Spencer hinted that Game Pass wouldn't keep its $9.99 marker forever, the subscription service is also hitting players in the pocket.
From July 6, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is climbing from $14.99 per month to $16.99 (€14.99/£12.99). The basic Xbox Game Pass is also going up from $9.99 a month to $10.99 (€10.99/£8.99). PC players are in luck, as Game Pass on PC is holding steady with its prices.
The Xbox pricing structure is all over the place
Click to enlargeCritics are calling out Microsoft's seemingly random decision to throw darts at a dartboard to decide where the hikes are taking place. For example, the Game Pass increases are rolling out worldwide, excluding Norway, Chile, Denmark, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia.
Others have eyed the proposed Activision Blizzard acquisition as a reason for the increases. Perez has reiterated this isn't the case, pointing out Microsoft hasn't raised its Game Pass prices since it launched in 2017.
"These Game Pass price adjustments are not related to the Activision Blizzard deal, and are intended to match local market conditions," says Perez. Interestingly, one of the UK Competition and Market Authority's reasons for trying to block the deal was a fear that Game Pass could become more expensive.
