The Xbox Series X|S price increase is here: As of August 1, 2026, you’ll pay up to 200 euros more for Microsoft’s consoles. The Xbox Series X with a disc drive now costs 799.99 euros, while the smaller Series S starts at 499.99 euros. This means the Series S is now as expensive as the Series X was at launch—and that’s for hardware that’s five and a half years old.
Microsoft had already announced the price adjustment at the end of June, but for a long time only listed the U.S. dollar prices. With the update to the Microsoft Store, the euro prices are now out in the open. The reason for the price hike: skyrocketing memory prices for DRAM and NAND, which are currently haunting the tech industry as “RAMageddon.”
Key Points at a Glance
- Price increase of up to 200 euros per console, effective August 1, 2026.
- Xbox Series S starting at 499.99 euros, Xbox Series X with a disc drive starting at 799.99 euros.
- Compared to the 2020 launch, that’s a 60 to 67 percent increase, depending on the model.
- The trigger is the sharp rise in prices for DRAM and NAND memory (“RAMageddon”).
- The 2-TB model of the Series X has been discontinued but is currently still listed at the old price.
The new Xbox prices at a glance
This second price increase in just a few months affects all models. To help you understand the context, we’ve compiled the complete price history since the launch in November 2020—including the interim price adjustment in May 2025.
| Model | Market Launch (Nov. 2020) | May 2025 | August 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S 512 GB | €299.99 | €349.99 | €499.99 |
| Xbox Series S 1 TB | €349.99 | €399.99 | €599.99 |
| Xbox Series X 1 TB Digital | €449.99 | €549.99 | €749.99 |
| Xbox Series X 1 TB (with optical drive) | €499.99 | €599.99 | €799.99 |
| Xbox Series X 2 TB Galaxy Black Special Edition | €649.99 | €699.99 | N/A* |
For the Series S and Series X Digital, the price increase compared to 2020 totals a whopping 67 percent. For the Series X with a disc drive, it’s “only” 60 percent—a small consolation given the 300-euro price increase over five and a half years. So anyone looking to buy the Xbox Series X will have to dig significantly deeper into their pockets than they did at the start of this console generation.
Why Is the Xbox Getting More Expensive? Here’s What’s Behind the Price Hike
The main reason isn’t an Xbox-specific issue, but rather an industry-wide one: Prices for RAM (DRAM) and flash memory (NAND) have literally skyrocketed since the summer. This surge is driven by enormous demand from the AI industry, while manufacturers like Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix cannot ramp up their production capacity at will on short notice. On the open market, RAM now costs many times what it did just a few months ago.
Since every console contains a substantial amount of GDDR memory and flash storage, the price increase is directly impacting manufacturing costs. Microsoft is now passing these costs on to customers instead of continuing to cross-subsidize the Xbox division. Sony, too, recently raised the price of the PS5—so the memory crisis is affecting the entire console industry.
Series S as Expensive as a Series X at Launch
One detail in particular is raising a lot of eyebrows: At 499.99 euros, the entry-level Xbox Series S console now costs exactly as much as the significantly more powerful Series X did at its market launch in November 2020. And the larger Series X with a disc drive, at 799.99 euros, is about 150 euros more than the current PlayStation 5. For a hardware generation that is by no means cutting-edge anymore, that’s quite a statement.
Unsurprisingly, hardly anyone will accept this as a classic “price increase due to new features.” It simply comes down to the fact that components have become more expensive—and the timing, just before the holiday shopping season, is particularly unfavorable for buyers.
Is it still worth buying an Xbox now?
In short: If you’ve had an Xbox Series X or S on your wish list anyway, it’s worth checking out retailers. Many retailers still have remaining stock at the old prices, and during sales events, some bundles are even cheaper than the new Microsoft Store price. Comparing prices is doubly worthwhile right now.
You can find current deals on Amazon, for example—a quick comparison with the official Microsoft Store will quickly show you where you’ll get the best deal right now.
FAQ on the 2026 Xbox Price Increase
When does the new Xbox price increase take effect?
The new prices have been in effect since August 1, 2026, and are already active in the Microsoft Store.
How much does the Xbox Series X cost now?
The Xbox Series X with a disc drive starts at 799.99 euros, while the Digital Edition without a disc drive starts at 749.99 euros.
How much does the Xbox Series S cost now?
The Xbox Series S with 512 GB costs 499.99 euros, and the 1-TB model costs 599.99 euros.
Why has the Xbox gotten more expensive?
The reason is the sharp rise in prices for DRAM and NAND memory (“RAMageddon”), triggered by high demand from the AI industry.
Is the 2-TB Xbox Series X still available?
The 2-TB model (Galaxy Black Special Edition) is being discontinued, but it’s currently still listed in the store for 699.99 euros—if you want one, you’d better act fast.
Conclusion: The memory crisis is turning consoles into luxury goods
The second Xbox Series X price hike in just a few months is yet another symptom of the memory crisis—and it’s hitting customers at the worst possible time. The fact that an entry-level Series X now costs as much as the top-of-the-line console once did shows just how much the market has shifted. From a buyer’s perspective, this isn’t fair, but it’s understandable from the manufacturer’s point of view: Microsoft can’t absorb the increased component costs forever. If you want an Xbox, it’s best to buy now from remaining stock at the old prices—or wait and see if memory prices stabilize again in the course of 2027. At the moment, however, there’s little to suggest that will happen.
