Oh boy, so here’s the deal. Microsoft decided to crank up the prices on, well, basically everything Xbox-related. Crazy, right? Like, why now? But wait, let me backtrack a bit because I got ahead of myself. So, as of May 1st, they’re hiking up the prices for Xbox Series S/X consoles, controllers, headsets—pretty much the works—citing “market conditions.” Whatever that really means.
The Series X is now gonna cost you $599.99, and that base controller? Now $64.99. Oh, and if you’re eying the new games dropping this holiday season, prepare to drop $79.99. Fun times. Isn’t this just like when the movies decide to charge extra for 3D? And you’re left wondering if it’s really worth it.
Anyway, the Xbox Series X with an extra terabyte of storage—yeah, it’s a whopping $599.99 now, up by $100. If you’re fancier and want the Galaxy Black 2TB version, you’re looking at $729.99. It’s just, wow. Who even decides these prices? Someone at Microsoft, obviously, but also, like, why these specific numbers? Maybe they have a dartboard they throw numbers at. Or maybe I’m just imagining things.
I almost forgot. There’s the Xbox Series X without the Ultra HD Blu-ray thingy which also went up by $100. The Series S models got more expensive too. So much for planning to save a little cash, right? It just feels like they’re slowly nudging everyone into their Xbox Game Pass, which, heads up, didn’t get a price bump this time. Yet.
Microsoft mentions development costs and trade policies as reasons for this. You gotta wonder how much truth there is to that. But I digress. It’s a global thing, Australia, Europe, the UK—they’re all feeling it. The wireless controller and headset got pricier too, something about keeping up with Nintendo’s pricing for Mario Kart World.
Things are pricey, folks. Sometimes I think it’s just another way to make us feel nostalgic for simpler times. Who knows? Anyway, that’s where we stand. Microsoft promises they’re looking ahead to bring us more games on more screens, which sounds all grand and whatnot. Meanwhile, Game Pass stays the same—for now. Feels like a tiny victory or maybe just the calm before another storm.
Oh, and don’t forget, Tom’s Hardware is still around for more tech updates if you’re not already following. Because, let’s face it, we all need to keep up somehow, right?
