Xbox consoles are now much more expensive in the EU and UK
Microsoft has raised prices for its Xbox Series S and Series X consoles across the European Union and UK, with increases even steeper than those recently applied in the US. The rises, which took effect on the Xbox store from 1 August, mean the cheapest console now costs £429.99/€499.99, adding pressure on consumers already facing higher costs across the games industry.
EU shoppers now pay between €150 and €200 more depending on the model, while UK buyers face increases of £130 to £170. The full breakdown includes the Xbox Series S (512GB) at €499.99/£429.99, the Series S (1TB) at €599.99/£519.99, the disc-less Series X at €749.99/£619.99, and the standard Series X at €799.99/£669.99. Microsoft has warned that further rises could follow, having flagged in June that memory and storage costs may double again, a pressure also cited by Sony and Nintendo in their own recent price increases.
- Xbox prices jump across EU and UK from 1 August
- Cheapest console now £429.99/€499.99, pricier than US hike
- Further rises possible as memory chip costs keep climbing
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Microsoft is behind the Xbox brand, which makes gaming consoles that compete with Sony's PlayStation and Nintendo's Switch. Consoles are usually sold at low profit margins, with money made instead from game sales and subscriptions, so their retail prices tend to stay fairly stable for long periods. Microsoft currently sells two models, the more affordable Series S and the more powerful Series X, in various storage sizes.
Console makers have recently pointed to rising costs for computer memory and storage chips as a reason for charging more, alongside broader economic pressures such as tariffs and inflation. Sony and Nintendo have both raised prices on their own hardware in recent months, suggesting an industry-wide trend rather than a move specific to Microsoft.
These price rises matter because consoles are a major purchase for many households, particularly around gift-giving periods, and higher costs can affect who is able to buy new hardware. They also feed into a wider conversation about the rising cost of video games and gaming equipment generally, at a time when many consumers are already watching their spending closely.