Microsoft raised prices on Xbox Series X/S consoles in Sweden. The Xbox Series X was released in November 2020 for $499, while the cheaper and less powerful Xbox Series S was released for $299. In addition to the difference in hardware, The Xbox Series S is a digital-only console which also offers less storage space than the Series X.
Microsoft recently raised the bar Xbox console prices in Japan by ¥5,000 as the Xbox Series X and S are now priced at ¥59,978 and ¥37,978 respectively. The change went into effect on February 17, and Microsoft cited the impact of local pricing as the reason for the increase. Microsoft also said it wants to maintain reasonable price consistency across regions, as the Xbox Series X/S consoles are now more expensive in Sweden.
As spotted by Gaming Deputy and later reported by Video Games Chronicle , the Xbox Series X console will now cost SEK 6,195, a SEK 500 increase from its original price. The revised asking price for the Xbox Series S is SEK 3,895, although Gaming Deputy reports that some retailers are charging around SEK 3,300 for the device. It will be interesting to see if Microsoft decides to raise the prices Xbox consoles in other regions, but the difference will likely vary by region.
This price hike isn’t limited to consoles Microsoft recently confirmed that it will raise the price of first-party games to $70 starting with Starfield, Redfalland Forza Motorsport. However, all of these games will be available on the first day of release on Xbox Game Pass, so users can subscribe to the service instead of paying the premium price.
In 2022, Sony has increased the price of the PS5 in many countries, including Canada, Japan, China, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Sony later said the price hike had no effect demand for the PS5 consoleso the same could be true for the Xbox Series X system. It should be noted that the PS5 price has remained unchanged in the US, so this Xbox boost may also only apply to select regions.
Game consoles typically decline in value over their lifespan, but the current generation seems to be bucking that trend. While this doesn’t rule out the possibility of a price drop, especially if Microsoft releases a system with redesigned hardware, such as a “slim” model, it’s unlikely that gamers will be able to buy an Xbox Series X console cheaper than its original price in the near future.
Source: Deputy (by Chronicle of video games)