While Nintendo recently dominated the gaming scene with its Switch 2 unveiling , Microsoft is now back in the spotlight. More precisely: in the spotlight of criticism. After Nintendo’s new pricing policy for physical and digital games caused a stir, the next industry giant is now following suit – with consequences for console fans in Europe.
What initially sounds like a normal market adjustment has some serious implications: Microsoft is raising the prices of its Xbox hardware with immediate effect. So if you’re currently thinking about buying a new console or a stylish controller,you’ll have to dig deeper into your pockets from May 1, 2025.
All models of the Xbox Series X and S are affected, including the new 2 TB Special Edition Accessories such as the Limited or Elite controllers are now also more expensive, with prices rising by up to 20 euros in some cases Although some standard controllers remain stable in price, the overall picture shows a clear trend: high-quality Xbox hardware is increasingly becoming a luxury item.
Xbox prices rise: games become more expensive than ever before
However, the consequences for the software side could be even more far-reaching. As Microsoft has officially confirmed, games from Xbox Game Studios will also become more expensive during the Christmas shopping season – and will now be priced in line with Nintendo’s current standards.
Specifically, this means that you will soon have to pay €79.99 for large AAA productions digitally and up to €89.99 for physical editions. This marks a new price level for Microsoft – at least for blockbusters such as the upcoming Call of Duty and similarly extensive titles.
However, the company also assures that not all games will be affected. Smaller productions will remain more flexible in terms of pricing – some may even continue to be available for less than €50.
While Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass will remain unaffected by this increase, another question arises: Will gamers accept the new pricing structure – or will trust slowly give way to growing skepticism toward the major platform holders?
