Latest News

Xbox and PlayStation both raise console prices in response to U.S. tariffs

Microsoft's Xbox has increased the price of its consoles, controllers and first-party games, as well as other accessories. This follows similar actions by competitors, due to U.S. Tariffs impacting supply chains globally.

Xbox announced in a blog on Thursday that it would be raising the prices of its products across the United States as well as Europe, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Xbox Series X, the more powerful console, will now be sold for around $600 in America. This is an increase of about $100.

This move comes just a few short weeks after Sony, the maker of PlayStation 5, raised prices on its PlayStation 5 console across various markets. It signals that console makers are preparing to face increased manufacturing costs as a result of tariffs.

The PlayStation 5 Pro console costs around $700 in America.

Nintendo's long-awaited Switch 2 is set to be released in June, and it's expected that gaming consoles will drive the growth of the video game market this year.

The Trump administration has imposed hefty tariffs on major manufacturing hubs like Japan, China and Vietnam, which have caused a price increase.

Analysts have warned these tariffs may hinder the growth of industry, because a potential recession in the economy and an increase in inflation could cause consumers to cut back on discretionary spending.

Nintendo resumed the pre-orders of the Switch 2 in late December after originally delaying them due to tariff uncertainty.

Xbox will raise the price of some first-party titles to $80. This follows Nintendo's similar pricing policy for "Mario Kart World," which could set a new standard in an industry where development costs are increasing.

(source: Reuters)