Quick Facts
- Effective Date: August 1, 2026
- Affected Regions: United Kingdom and Europe
- Price Increases: Up to 40% depending on model
- Primary Justification: Increased component costs for storage and memory
Following a preliminary warning issued in June, Microsoft has officially increased the pricing for its Xbox Series X and S consoles across the United Kingdom and Europe. The price adjustments, which took effect on August 1, 2026, represent a significant shift in the cost of entry for current-generation hardware in these markets.
New Console Pricing Breakdown
The adjustments affect both the 512GB Xbox Series S and the 1TB disc-drive version of the Xbox Series X. Consumers in the affected regions will see the following changes:
- Xbox Series S (512GB): Now retailing at €499.99/£429.99, an increase from the previous €349.99/£299.99.
- Xbox Series X (1TB): Now retailing at €799.99/£669.99, an increase from the previous €599.99/£499.99.
The increase for the 1TB Xbox Series X reflects a total hike of approximately $230 compared to previous pricing. Reports indicate that these changes equate to price increases of up to 40 percent in European territories.
Microsoft's Stated Rationale
When initially announcing the impending price hike in June, Microsoft attributed the decision to a "current components crisis." The company stated that the costs for console storage and memory have risen by more than 2.5 times, with projections suggesting a further doubling of these costs by the fall of 2027. Microsoft noted that these effects are impacting the broader consumer electronics industry, with console manufacturing facing particular pressure.