Microsoft raises Xbox console prices in Europe, UK and Japan
Microsoft announced on 25 June 2026 that the prices of Xbox Series S and Series X consoles would increase worldwide from 1 August 2026, citing a continuing crisis in memory and storage components driven by AI‑data‑center demand. In Europe the hikes are up to €200 per model: the Series S 512 GB rose from €349.99 to €499.99, the Series S 1 TB from €399.99 to €599.99, the Series X digital 1 TB from €549.99 to €749.99 and the disc‑equipped Series X 1 TB from €599.99 to €799.99. In the United Kingdom the same models increased by £130‑£170, with the Series S 512 GB moving to £429.99 and the Series X disc model to £669.99. In Japan the new pricing adds roughly ¥30,000 to each model, putting the Series X 1 TB disc version at ¥117,980 (up from ¥87,980) and the Series S 1 TB at ¥97,480. The hikes have drawn consumer backlash and occur while Xbox sales lag behind Sony’s PlayStation 5, which has shipped over 95 million units compared with an estimated 35 million Xbox consoles. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the need for a financially sustainable Xbox division, and Xbox head Asha Sharma set a target of 500 million daily players by 2030.
Entities: Asha Sharma · Beast of Reincarnation · Celeste · Crusader Kings III · Microsoft · Microsoft Corporation · Satya Nadella · Xbox Game Pass · Xbox Series S · Xbox Series X
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] In Japan the Xbox Series X 1 TB disc model price increased to ¥117,980 from ¥87,980, a ¥30,000 rise. (Japanese article)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The price increase is attributed to a crisis in memory and storage component supply, driven by AI data‑center demand. (all articles)
- [● 6 SOURCES] In Europe the Xbox Series S 1 TB price rose from €399.99 to €599.99, a €200 increase. (European articles)
- [● 6 SOURCES] In Europe the Xbox Series S 512 GB price rose from €349.99 to €499.99, a €150 increase. (European articles)
- [● 6 SOURCES] In Europe the Xbox Series X digital 1 TB price rose from €549.99 to €749.99, a €200 increase. (European articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] In the United Kingdom the Xbox Series S 512 GB price rose from £299.99 to £429.99, a £130 increase. (UK articles)
- [● 6 SOURCES] In Europe the Xbox Series X with disc 1 TB price rose from €599.99 to €799.99, a €200 increase. (European articles)
- [● 9 SOURCES] Microsoft announced on 25 June 2026 that Xbox Series S and Series X prices would increase globally effective 1 August 2026. (all articles)