If you’ve been eyeing an Xbox, the clock is ticking. Microsoft announced on June 25, 2026 that it’s pushing console prices up yet again — and this marks the third increase since 2025, following hikes in May 2025 and September 2025.
The new pricing takes effect August 1, 2026. The 512GB models are going up by US$100, while the 1TB models climb by US$150. Here’s how the lineup shakes out:
- Xbox Series S (512GB) — US$499.99
- Xbox Series S (1TB) — US$599.99
- Xbox Series X Digital (1TB) — US$749.99
- Xbox Series X (disc, 1TB) — US$799.99
The 2TB model, meanwhile, is being quietly sunset and won’t survive the shuffle.
So why the relentless creep upward? Microsoft points the finger at memory and storage components, which it says have ballooned in cost by more than 2.5x. And the company isn’t sugarcoating the outlook: it warns of another potential doubling in those component prices by fall 2027. In other words, today’s numbers may look almost quaint a year and a half from now.
It’s a striking turn for a console generation that launched at far friendlier figures. The Series S, once positioned as the affordable entry point into next-gen gaming, now starts at US$499.99 — territory that used to belong to flagship hardware. The disc-equipped Series X, at US$799.99, has firmly crossed into premium pricing.
For gamers, the math is simple: anything bought before August 1 dodges the increase entirely. After that, every tier of the Xbox family carries a noticeably heavier price tag, and the discontinuation of the 2TB option trims the high-storage choices for those who hoard massive game libraries.
The repeated hikes also raise broader questions about the economics of dedicated gaming hardware. With component costs spiraling and another surge forecast, the era of consoles getting cheaper over their lifespan — a long-standing industry tradition — looks increasingly like a relic. If anything, Microsoft is signaling that buyers should expect the opposite.
Whether players swallow the increase or pivot toward subscriptions, cloud streaming, and PC gaming remains to be seen. For now, the message from Redmond is blunt: if you want an Xbox at current prices, the window closes at the end of July.
