The 2026 Xbox price increase is official: Microsoft is raising prices for the Xbox Series X and Series S worldwide effective August 1, by $100 to $150 depending on the model. The 2-TB top-of-the-line model will be discontinued entirely. Microsoft cites the sharp rise in the cost of memory modules as the reason.
TL;DR
- The effective date is August 1, 2026, and the price increase applies worldwide.
- Models with 512 GB will cost $100 more, while models with 1 TB will cost $150 more.
- The 2-TB version of the Series X (Galaxy Black Special Edition) will be discontinued.
- Microsoft has not yet announced prices in euros.
- This is the third price adjustment in about 15 months.
Xbox Price Increase 2026: Here’s What’s Changing
Anyone thinking about buying an Xbox in the coming weeks should hurry. In a post on Xbox Wire, Microsoft announced that prices for the current generation of consoles will increase on August 1, 2026. Unlike the last round in October, this time the increase will affect not only the U.S. but all markets worldwide.
The price increase is based on storage capacity. Models with a 512 GB SSD will go up by $100, while models with 1 TB will go up by $150. For the U.S. market, the new MSRPs will be as follows:
| Model | Storage | New US Price (effective August 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S | 512 GB | $499.99 |
| Xbox Series S | 1 TB | $599.99 |
| Xbox Series X (All-Digital, no disc drive) | 1 TB | $749.99 |
| Xbox Series X (with drive) | 1 TB | $799.99 |
| Xbox Series X Galaxy Black | 2 TB | N/A |
To put this in perspective: The Series S launched in November 2020 with an MSRP of $299.99. At $499.99, it is now two-thirds higher than the launch price. The Series X with a hard drive is priced at $799.99—exactly where Microsoft had previously positioned the now-discontinued 2-TB model. A console that becomes more expensive rather than cheaper over the course of its lifecycle is, unfortunately, no longer an exception in 2026.
The 2-TB model is being discontinued entirely
If you’re looking at the list and wondering where the 2 TB Series X is: it hasn’t been forgotten—it’s been discontinued. The variant with double the storage, marketed as the Galaxy Black Special Edition, will disappear from the lineup as of the effective date. Microsoft hasn’t given an official reason, but the connection is obvious. If flash memory prices more than double, the premium for a model with double the storage would simply have become too steep to continue producing it sensibly. Anyone who wanted maximum internal storage right out of the box will be out of luck in the future.
Why Is the Xbox Getting More Expensive? The Memory Crisis
Microsoft cites component costs as the reason for the move. The original statement says the company had hoped to avoid another price increase and had spent months working with suppliers to find solutions. It didn’t work out: Prices for storage and RAM have risen more than 2.5 times since the last price adjustment, and Microsoft expects them to double again by fall 2027.
Added to this is a point that Microsoft itself emphasizes: Consoles are generally not sold at a profit, but for less than they cost to manufacture. Unlike with smartphones, speakers, or computers, the sales are only supposed to pay for themselves through games, subscriptions, and accessories. With component prices skyrocketing, this model is breaking down, and the manufacturer is passing on the costs. There is a certain irony in the fact that a company—of all entities—that is itself driving up demand for memory through the AI boom is, to some extent, portraying itself as a victim of the situation.
Microsoft is not alone in this. Sony last raised the price of the PS5 in April 2026, and Nintendo is also planning two further price increases for the Switch following its first adjustment. Pressure on the entire industry is mounting, and it is unlikely that competitors will be able to ignore the trend in memory prices in the long term.
What Microsoft Is Offering in Return
Microsoft isn’t leaving buyers completely without recourse. Alongside the price increase, the company is expanding several programs designed to make the console more affordable:
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Interest-free installment payments through the Microsoft Store are set to become more accessible.
- Zero-percent financing on Amazon: with terms of up to twelve months.
- Trade-in program: In collaboration with retail partners, old consoles can be traded in for cash or store credit. The returned units are then inspected and sold on the secondhand market.
- Certified Refurbished: Refurbished consoles are available in the Microsoft Store with up to a $100 discount off the MSRP.
Despite all this, Microsoft continues to tout the Series S as the most affordable entry point into the current generation, especially with an eye toward upcoming titles like Grand Theft Auto VI, Gears of War: E-Day, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. However, the $100 markup significantly weakens this argument.
What does this mean for Germany?
Things are still a bit unclear here. Microsoft has so far only listed prices in dollars; specific euro figures for August 1 are missing. Currently, according to the MSRP, a Series S costs around 350 euros, and the Series X with a disc drive costs around 600 euros. The last price increase in Germany was on May 1, 2025, when prices rose by 50 euros each.
It would be a real surprise if the euro prices didn’t follow suit. The question is rather how high the markup will be. At the current exchange rate, 100 U.S. dollars is just under 88 euros, but Microsoft isn’t known for accurately reflecting exchange rates and, based on past experience, passes on such markups one-to-one. It’s even possible that the company will apply the increase that was skipped in Germany in October 2025 at the same time. In that case, prices here could end up being higher than in the U.S.
Is it worth buying before August 1?
In short: Anyone who was planning to buy one soon anyway should do so before the deadline. Depending on the model, this could save you $100 to $150—or presumably a similar amount in euros. This is especially relevant for anyone who wants to have a console at home in time for the GTA 6 release. Those who can wait may find cheaper options through refurbished deals, trade-ins, and future bundle promotions.
Current Xbox consoles at the “old” price are available here, for example: Xbox Series X on Amazon and Xbox Series S on Amazon. (Please check the correct ASIN/variant before purchasing.)
Once you have the console, all that’s missing are the right accessories and a steady supply of games. When buying a controller, it’s worth checking out our reviews of affordable Xbox controller alternatives, and if you’re still looking for games to play, you’ll find what you need in our roundup of the best survival games. Our in-depth look at the hardware details of the Xbox Series X also shows just how much technology is packed into these consoles.
Conclusion on the 2026 Xbox Price Increase
The 2026 Xbox price hike is the third in just over a year, and it hurts. Up to $150 more, plus the discontinuation of the 2-TB model: That’s a significant markup, which Microsoft attributes to the storage crisis and the already unprofitable console business. Financing options and refurbished programs help cushion the blow, but they don’t make the consoles any cheaper. For prospective buyers, this means one thing above all: Anyone who still wants to snap one up at the old price has until the end of July. How high the prices in euros will ultimately be remains the most intriguing open question for now.
Sources: Xbox Wire (official)
