Xbox Just Gave Gamers the Middle Finger (and Charged You for It)
Microsoft hikes prices on consoles, games, and accessories—and it’s as absurd as it sounds.
Oh, come on, Microsoft.
You ever just sit there, watching the gaming industry unravel like a cheap USB cable, and think, “Wow, they really don’t want us to enjoy games anymore”? Because that’s exactly what this latest move from Xbox feels like. A full-on cash grab disguised as “standard inflation adjustments” or some other corporate nonsense. And I’m not buying it.
So What Happened?
Let’s break it down before I blow a fuse.
Microsoft just announced a sweeping price increase across the entire Xbox ecosystem—consoles, controllers, headsets, and yep… games. According to IGN, this isn’t just a one-off boost. This is a global adjustment, hitting wallets hard starting May 1st. And if you thought digital games were safe? Think again. By holiday 2025, new first-party Xbox titles are expected to hit $79.99.
Eighty bucks. For a digital copy. That you don’t even own in any tangible way.
This is absolute madness.
Let’s Talk Numbers
Here’s what’s changing. Buckle up:
Xbox Series S (512GB): $300 → $380
Series S (1TB): $350 → $430
Series X (All-Digital): $450 → $550
Series X (Standard): $500 → $600
Series X (2TB Galaxy Edition): $600 → $730 — for sparkles and an little extra storage space.
Sparkles, guys.
Controllers & Accessories? Also Getting Hammered
Standard Wireless Controller: $65 → $70
Special Edition: $80
Limited Edition: $90
Elite Controller Core: $150
Elite Controller Full Kit: $200
Because who doesn’t love spending the cost of an actual console on a damn controller?
What in the Green Halo Is Going On?
Let’s be real. There’s no world in which a Series S—a digital-only, lower-powered console—is worth $380. Not in 2025. Not in 2020. Not even in a parallel dimension where Redfall was a good game.
This is what happens when companies stop innovating and start cashing in. Series S is meant to be an entry-level system. It’s not a collector’s item. It doesn’t print money. It plays downgraded versions of AAA games. And now they want us to pay almost $400 for it?
No. Just no.
“Get a PC Then!” Yeah, About That…
Some folks are already screaming “Join the master race!” and sure, that sounds cute… until you remember what the PC market looked like during the GPU shortage of 2020–2022. Graphics cards were being priced like they had bitcoin soldered into them. And if these console hikes are a sign of what’s coming, PC parts are next.
Inflation, tariffs, supply chain call it whatever you want. The reality is this: Gaming is being priced out of reach for the average player.
Your Best Bet?
Honestly? If you already have a console, hold onto it for dear life. Treat it like Gollum treats the One Ring. Or better yet, grab a Steam Deck and live that indie life for a while. Because spending $730 on a console with glitter should be illegal.
Even Nintendo… the king of aging tech, wants to charge $450 for Switch 2, which is still running on tech from the first Trump administration. It’s like all three console makers are in a secret group chat, daring each other to see who can charge the dumbest price.
I’ve been an Xbox fan for years. But this? This ain’t it. This feels like a betrayal. Not just of loyalty, but of common sense. I want to support the brand. I want to be excited for what’s next. But how can I when the price of entry now feels like a luxury tax?
Let me know what you think. Are you still rocking with Xbox after this? Or are you jumping ship to Steam, Switch, or whatever wacky decision Sony’s inevitably about to fumble next?
