Microsoft Increases the Price of Xbox Products

By N. S.

People all have their hobbies, be it reading, exercise or playing golf. And a lot of people are gamers, or at least play games in their spare time. Gamers are a crowd companies have to appeal to, especially a rowdy crowd that is easy to enrage if their ability to game is impeded. 

Speaking of gaming, Microsoft has recently announced and implemented an increase in prices across its Xbox products on a global scale.

For example, an Xbox Series X right now costs $599.99, an increase from its previous price of $499.99. Another product, the Xbox Series S, used to cost $299.99 but now has been increased to a total of $379.99.

There have been many questions why this occurs, some speculating it is because of the U.S tariffs made by the Trump Administration. However, the reason for this increase in prices is due to the increasing complexity and scope of modern gaming. And alongside that, this is an issue related to U.S tariffs that inflict a 145% duty on electronics from China, which significantly increased production costs as many Xbox components are manufactured there.

Backlash has also been reported within the gaming community, noting that the price increase makes the Xbox consoles less competitive compared to competitors such as the Playstation 5.

One user comments, “First gen ware consoles are an appreciating asset 4 years in. What a joke”. This is the type of sentiment and criticism that Microsoft faces, not to mention that many are struggling to make ends meet as is. 

Nowadays, even in the gaming world it is never safe from politics that threaten them. 

Following this price increase, competitors such as Sony and Nintendo have taken the initiative to appeal to consumers as more “budget-friendly”. In the opportunity to appeal to the crowd of gamers, the PS5 Slime Digital Digital Edition bundled with the game Astro Bot is priced at $399.99, making it cheaper than the 1Tb Xbox Series S by $30. 

Nintendo, which while staying to its original (albeit criticized) price for the upcoming Switch 2 console at $429.99, positioned itself as a more budget-friendly console than the current Xbox Series X.

It is reasonable for gamers who feel disappointed in these companies to show their disappointment by entirely avoiding their products.