Microsoft Increases Prices For Xbox Series X and Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Series X and Xbox Game Pass prices are increasing. As early as July, Microsoft will gradually start increasing it, starting with the fees for its gaming flat rate. It was only a matter of time before the Redmond company turned the price screw.

“At some point, we have to raise the prices,” said Xbox boss Phil Spencer in October. Most recently, there were indications of a price adjustment for the Xbox Series X at the beginning of the year, but only in Japan. After Sony increased the price of the PlayStation 5 by 50 euros at an early stage, Microsoft is only reacting a year later.

50 euros surcharge for Xbox Series X, Game Pass from 10.99 euros

As colleagues from The Verge have learned, the price of the Xbox Series X in Germany will increase from currently 499.99 euros to 549.99 euros. The Redmond-based company is thus based on Sony’s price increase for the PS5. The new price will apply from August 1, 2023. The cheaper but also less powerful Xbox Series S, on the other hand, should keep its current price point of 299.99 euros or 349.99 euros in the black color variant with a 1 TB SSD.

In addition, the price of the Xbox Game Pass will be tightened. The gaming flat rate for consoles increases from EUR 9.99 per month to EUR 10.99. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate including Xbox Live Gold, Microsofts Cloud gaming, PC games, and EA Play, on the other hand, no longer only costs 12.99 euros, but soon 14.99 euros per month. Existing customers will only be charged the higher price from September 13th. For new customers, however, the new fees apply from July 6th.

“These Game Pass price adjustments are unrelated to the Activision Blizzard deal and are intended to reflect local market conditions,” Xbox communications director Kari Perez told The Verge. It’s the first price increase for the Xbox Series X since its launch in 2020, and Game Pass has also been spared since its launch in 2017. Now the hurdles of the last few months and years are hitting us twice – the coronavirus pandemic, the chip crisis, inflation, and mass layoffs.