{"id":2075926,"date":"2026-08-03T09:32:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T06:32:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2075926"},"modified":"2026-08-03T09:32:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T06:32:36","slug":"xbox-fans-criticise-massive-uk-and-europe-console-price-hikes-laughably-outrageous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2075926","title":{"rendered":"Xbox fans criticise massive UK and Europe console price hikes: \u201cLaughably outrageous\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Xbox-Series-XS.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><span>Gaming News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Xbox fans criticise massive UK and Europe console price hikes: \u201cLaughably outrageous\u201d<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Some models are now \u00a3170 more expensive\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Ali Shutler<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-08-03T10:32:36+01:00\">3rd August 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Xbox-Series-XS-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"Xbox Series X\/S price hike\" title=\"Xbox Series X:S\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Xbox Series X. CREDIT: Microsoft<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Microsoft has confirmed how much more the Xbox Series X\/S will cost in the UK and Europe and fans are furious about the \u201claughably outrageous\u201d price hikes.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: This emo band found the nerdiest way to release an album \u2013 on a retro games console<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Last month, Microsoft confirmed Xbox consoles would be getting more expensive for the second time in 18 months. \u201cWe hoped another price increase would not be necessary, and we have spent the last several months working with suppliers on options. Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027. The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles,\u201d Microsoft wrote in a blog post. \u201cUnlike phones, computers, speakers, and other consumer devices, consoles are typically not sold at a profit, but instead for less than they cost to make.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>At the time it was confirmed US gamers would be paying between $100 and $150 more for Xbox Series X\/S consoles and over the weekend, the new prices for UK and European customers were confirmed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Xbox Series S (512GB) \u2013 \u00a3429.99 \/ \u20ac499.99 (was \u00a3299.99 \/ \u20ac349.99)<\/li>\n<li>Xbox Series S (1TB) \u2013 \u00a3519.99 \/ \u20ac599.99 (was \u00a3349.99 \/ \u20ac399.99)<\/li>\n<li>Xbox Series X (1TB, Digital) \u2013 \u00a3619.99 \/ \u20ac749.99 (was \u00a3449.99 \/ \u20ac549.99)<\/li>\n<li>Xbox Series X (1TB, Disc) \u2013 \u00a3669.99 \/ \u20ac799.99 (was \u00a3499.99 \/ \u20ac599.99)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Last May you could get the 512GB Xbox Series S, which launched in 2020, for \u00a3249.99.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI understand why they had to do this, but they can\u2019t seriously expect any sales now for an already poorly selling console,\u201d one fan asked on Reddit. \u201cAt this point in the lifecycle you should have been able to get a Series S for like $99.99 not $499.99. That\u2019s laughably outrageous,\u201d wrote another. \u201cNever thought consoles would appreciate in value over time,\u201d said a third.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, Nintendo raised the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 by $50 in response to \u201cvarious changes in the market environment\u201d while Sony has increased the cost of the PlayStation 5 twice in the past year.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>New Xbox boss Asha Sharma recently said the next generation of Xbox consoles might not be \u201cthe most premium, high-performance\u201d because \u201cwe\u2019ve reached a point where it will be hard to imagine that mass audiences can afford thousands of dollars to spend on a console.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>According to rumours, both the PS6 and next-gen Xbox are due to launch late next year but could be delayed to 2029 due to \u201cRAMmageddon\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>In other news Mick Gordon, the composer of the iconic\u00a0<i>Doom<\/i>\u00a0reboot score, has been announced as the first headliner of Manchester\u2019s RADAR Festival next year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Xbox Series X\/S<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_93 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_93\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\">\n<h4 class=\"td-block-title\"><span class=\"td-pulldown-size\">TRENDING<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_93\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Tyla on her ethos as a new-age, African popstar: \u201cWe are all limitless\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Abubakar Salim is ready to be the dashing hero of \u2018House Of The Dragon\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap 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nightmares<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-custom_ad_1  tdi_94 td_block_template_2\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_95\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_96  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_98  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_100  vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_102  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_104 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>More Stories<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_105 td-pb-border-top td_module_flex_1--card td_module_flex_1--card--highlight td_block_template_2 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td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Gaming News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Xbox Game Pass is \u201ctoo expensive\u201d says new Xbox chief<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Gaming News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Hades 2 and more confirmed for Xbox Game Pass<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Gaming News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Xbox set to revive \u201ciconic\u201d classic games later this year<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Gaming News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Xbox announces next-gen console \u2018Project Helix\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Microsoft has confirmed how much more the Xbox Series X\/S will cost in the UK and Europe and fans are furious about the \u201claughably outrageous\u201d price hikes.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: This emo band found the nerdiest way to release an album \u2013 on a retro games console<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Last month, Microsoft confirmed Xbox consoles would be getting more expensive for the second time in 18 months. \u201cWe hoped another price increase would not be necessary, and we have spent the last several months working with suppliers on options. Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027. The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles,\u201d Microsoft wrote in a blog post. \u201cUnlike phones, computers, speakers, and other consumer devices, consoles are typically not sold at a profit, but instead for less than they cost to make.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>At the time it was confirmed US gamers would be paying between $100 and $150 more for Xbox Series X\/S consoles and over the weekend, the new prices for UK and European customers were confirmed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Xbox Series S (512GB) \u2013 \u00a3429.99 \/ \u20ac499.99 (was \u00a3299.99 \/ \u20ac349.99)<\/li>\n<li>Xbox Series S (1TB) \u2013 \u00a3519.99 \/ \u20ac599.99 (was \u00a3349.99 \/ \u20ac399.99)<\/li>\n<li>Xbox Series X (1TB, Digital) \u2013 \u00a3619.99 \/ \u20ac749.99 (was \u00a3449.99 \/ \u20ac549.99)<\/li>\n<li>Xbox Series X (1TB, Disc) \u2013 \u00a3669.99 \/ \u20ac799.99 (was \u00a3499.99 \/ \u20ac599.99)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Last May you could get the 512GB Xbox Series S, which launched in 2020, for \u00a3249.99.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI understand why they had to do this, but they can\u2019t seriously expect any sales now for an already poorly selling console,\u201d one fan asked on Reddit. \u201cAt this point in the lifecycle you should have been able to get a Series S for like $99.99 not $499.99. That\u2019s laughably outrageous,\u201d wrote another. \u201cNever thought consoles would appreciate in value over time,\u201d said a third.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, Nintendo raised the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 by $50 in response to \u201cvarious changes in the market environment\u201d while Sony has increased the cost of the PlayStation 5 twice in the past year.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>New Xbox boss Asha Sharma recently said the next generation of Xbox consoles might not be \u201cthe most premium, high-performance\u201d because \u201cwe\u2019ve reached a point where it will be hard to imagine that mass audiences can afford thousands of dollars to spend on a console.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>According to rumours, both the PS6 and next-gen Xbox are due to launch late next year but could be delayed to 2029 due to \u201cRAMmageddon\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>In other news Mick Gordon, the composer of the iconic\u00a0<i>Doom<\/i>\u00a0reboot score, has been announced as the first headliner of Manchester\u2019s RADAR Festival next year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/gaming-news\/xbox-series-x-s-price-hike-uk-europe-ai-3960440&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Xbox-Series-XS.jpg&#8221;] NewsGaming News Xbox fans criticise massive UK and Europe console price hikes: \u201cLaughably outrageous\u201d Some models are now \u00a3170 more expensive By Ali Shutler 3rd August 2026 Xbox Series X. CREDIT: Microsoft Microsoft has confirmed how much more the Xbox Series X\/S will cost in the UK and Europe and fans are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2075926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2075926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2075926"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2075926\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2075926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2075926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2075926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}