Europe and UK Xbox prices soar well beyond Microsoft’s US increases

Microsoft's latest Xbox price increase has officially gone into effect, and for gamers in Europe and the UK, the news is even worse than expected. While the company announced worldwide price hikes back in June, it only revealed the updated US pricing at the time. Now that retailers have refreshed their listings, the full extent of the increases in other regions has become clear.

The Xbox Series X 1TB with a disc drive now costs €799.99 in Europe, up from €599.99. The all-digital version has climbed from €549.99 to €749.99. UK buyers are seeing similar jumps, with the disc-equipped model rising from £499.99 to £669.99, while the digital edition has increased from £449.99 to £619.99. The updated pricing is as follows:

The hikes represent one of the largest mid-generation console price increases in recent memory. Microsoft had previously confirmed that higher prices would take effect globally on August 1, but it stopped short of disclosing regional pricing outside the US until stores updated their listings overnight.

This also isn't the first adjustment the Xbox Series X|S lineup has seen. Depending on the region, Microsoft's current consoles have now gone through two or even three rounds of price increases since launch. The company has attributed the higher prices to rising hardware and manufacturing costs as the ongoing memory and component shortage continues to affect the industry.

The latest increases also raise fresh questions about the next console generation. Reports have already suggested Sony's PlayStation 6 could cost close to $1,000 (approximately €860 / £740) to manufacture, while Microsoft's rumored Project Helix has been tipped to launch at an even higher price. Earlier estimates placed the next Xbox at around $1,200 (approximately €1,030 / £890), and those projections were made before this latest round of hardware price hikes.

If today's consoles are already approaching premium gaming PC prices in some regions, expectations of next-generation hardware launching comfortably below the $1,000 mark are becoming increasingly difficult to justify. With memory prices still elevated and AI demand continuing to strain component supplies, both Microsoft and Sony may have little choice but to pass those costs on to consumers once their next consoles arrive.

As always, for the latest news on Xbox, PC gaming, hardware launches, and developments across the gaming industry, be sure to follow our dedicated hardware coverage.