Microsoft Increases Xbox Series X, Series S Price for the First Time

Microsoft is set to increase the price of the Xbox Series X and the Series S, but for now it’s only happening in Japan.

As Gematsu reports(Opens in a new window), Microsoft is increasing the price of the Xbox Series X from 54,978 yen ($422) to 59,978 yen ($460), which means Japanese games will be spending an extra $38 on the hardware. The cheaper Xbox Series S price is being raised from 32,278 yen ($248) to 37,978 yen ($292), which is a bigger increase of $44. The higher prices will be charged from Feb. 17, giving Japanese consumers a couple more weeks to buy either console at the current price points.

In a statement, Microsoft Japan explained:

“After carefully evaluating the market condition in Japan, we have decided to change the suggested retail price of Xbox consoles in the country. We regularly evaluate the impact of local pricing to maintain reasonable consistency across regions. This price revision affects our customers and was a difficult decision to make, but going forward we will continue to provide the ultimate Xbox experience that our customers expect.”

Microsoft has always struggled to gain a foothold in the Japanese market, and a price rise will do nothing to help grow sales there. However, it’s likely Japan is just the start of the price rises after Xbox boss Phil Spencer hinting last year that console, games, and Game Pass price rises were coming after the holidays. Microsoft has already decided that first-party titles for Xbox will cost $69.99 this year.

Sony increased the price of the PS5 everywhere except in the US last year, with gamers paying up to $50 more for the console. It now looks as though Microsoft is about to go through the same transition just as Sony has figured out its supply chain difficulties and made the PS5 much easier to buy around the world.