TechTarget and Informa Tech’s Digital Business Combine.TechTarget and InformaTechTarget and Informa Tech’s Digital Business Combine.Together, we power an unparalleled network of 220+ online properties covering 10,000+ granular topics, serving an audience of 50+ million professionals with original, objective content from trusted sources. We help you gain critical insights and make more informed decisions across your business priorities.Xbox is increasing hardware prices and bumping first-party titles to $80Xbox is increasing hardware prices and bumping first-party titles to $80Without once mentioning the word tariffs, Xbox announced that consoles, accessories, and games just got more expensive.Diego Arguello, ContributorMay 1, 20252 Min ReadImage via XboxXbox is increasing console and controller prices across the board, effective immediately, affecting all eligible markets worldwide.In an announcement with zero mentions of the word "tariffs," the company said the price hikes are starting today, May 1, sharing an updated MSRP list for the United States, Europe, United Kingdom and Australia.The markets not listed will also be affected, and local pricing "may differ by country to reflect exchange rates and market conditions," although there are no specific details. In the US and Canada, specifically, headsets are also becoming more expensive.Some examples in the US: The Xbox Series S 512 is now $380, up from $300, while the Xbox Series X is $600, up from $500. As for accessories, the Xbox Wireless Headset is now $120, up from $110, and the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (Full) is now $200, up from $180.Moreover, starting this holiday season, "some" first-party games will cost $80. This includes both physical and digital versions. This is the second price hike in two years, with the company bumping first-party titles to $70 in 2023."We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development," the company said in the announcement, following quarterly financial reports stating a decline in Xbox hardware revenue. "Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players."Related:This is the second wave of Xbox price hikes in a two-year spanThe last time Xbox increased console prices—affecting the Series X in Europe, Canada, and Australia—the company said that they had been made to "reflect the competitive conditions in each market." While the latest wave has a global impact, the timing goes hand-in-hand with the Trump administration announcing tariffs on April 2.The government backed down the following week, setting a temporary 10 percent tariff for most countries during a 90 day period. China, however, received a 145% tariff. In January 2020, GameIndustry.biz reported that over 96% of consoles imported into the US in 2018 came from China, according to figures from Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo.The Xbox news comes weeks after Nintendo delayed the Switch 2 pre-orders in response to tariffs. When the company announced the new April 24 date, it stated that console prices would remain as is, but most accessories saw "price adjustments."After the reveal that Mario Kart World will cost $80, Nintendo of America boss Doug Bowser explained that it‛s an example of a "variable pricing" philosophy adopted by the company. Similarly to Xbox, it‛s not the universal price tag moving forward, but depending on the game, first-party titles can be sold at $80 moving forward.Related:Read more about:TariffsXboxTop StoriesAbout the AuthorDiego ArguelloContributorSee more from Diego ArguelloDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like