Xbox has announced that it will be raising its prices for both its hardware and games this year, with games going to $80 this holiday.
In an announcement released today, Xbox confirmed that its consoles and hardware will increase in price starting today. But that’s not all, as the company has also confirmed that starting this holiday season, Xbox’s first-party games will now set you back $79.99.
The company also revealed that the prices increase will be globally and not just in the US.
In a statement to IGN, Microsoft said, “We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development. Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players.”
In its earnings call yesterday, Microsoft announced that Xbox game revenue increased, while its hardware sales continue to decline.
Xbox is now the second large publisher to announce its game prices will increase, which follows Nintendo’s announcement earlier this year for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo’s first-party games will also set players back $80 for first-party games, while some countries like those in Europe will also see further game price hikes for physical editions.
As for what the game price increases mean for the highly anticipated GTA 6, which officially is still set to release later this year remains to be seen, but likely Take-Two interactive will see the +13% in revenue as an easy win (at the $80 price point), especially as now other publishers have already started the trend.
What do you think of Xbox games now costing $80? Do you think its worth it? Let us know down below, and join the discussion in the official Insider Gaming forums.
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Tom Henderson is Insider Gaming's Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief. When he's not running one of the industry's leading independent video game websites, he's probably playing an FPS like Call of Duty,…
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I’m fine with it as long as they buy Take Two Interactive and make good games no politics. Bring back fun and make good remakes too bring back franchises. Buy IP from Ubisoft and buy EA as well or Respawn and key IP. Remake Thrill Kill buy that IP. Game Pass is the main thing add that to all platforms also XCloud let me play games on any device tablets and phones too. Make proper VR make Sword Art Online and .hack virtual reality a true reality make the Metaverse a real space to us.