Buying an Xbox in Europe just became a much harder decision.
Microsoft has rolled out another major round of console price increases, pushing some Xbox Series X and Series S models up by as much as €200 in European markets. UK customers face increases reaching £170.
The new prices took effect on August 1, 2026. Microsoft warned in June that console prices would rise worldwide, but it initially published only the updated US figures. European and UK customers had to wait until the changes appeared at retailers to see the full damage.
Xbox Series X Now Costs €799.99 in Europe
The standard 1TB Xbox Series X with a disc drive has jumped from €599.99 to €799.99 in Europe. That is a €200 increase on hardware that launched several years ago.
The digital 1TB Series X received the same increase. Its price moved from €549.99 to €749.99.
UK prices climbed almost as sharply. Microsoft now lists the disc-based Series X at £669.99, up from £499.99, while the digital version costs £619.99 instead of £449.99. Both models are £170 more expensive than before.
These are not small adjustments buried behind currency conversions. The price of the main Series X model has climbed by more than 30 percent in both regions.
Xbox Series S Loses Its Budget Console Advantage
The Xbox Series S was supposed to be the cheaper entry into Microsoft’s current-generation gaming platform. That pitch looks far less convincing now.
The 512GB Series S costs €499.99 in Europe, up from €349.99. UK buyers will pay £429.99 instead of £299.99. That works out to an increase of more than 43 percent.
Microsoft has also pushed the 1TB Series S from €399.99 to €599.99 in Europe. In the UK, the same console jumped from £349.99 to £519.99.
At €599.99, the upgraded Series S now costs as much as the disc-equipped Series X did before this latest price change. The less powerful console still lacks a disc drive and delivers lower performance, but its old price advantage has narrowed dramatically.
New Xbox Prices Across Europe and the UK
Here is the full Xbox price increase for both regions:
Xbox Series S 512GB
Europe: €499.99, previously €349.99
UK: £429.99, previously £299.99
Xbox Series S 1TB
Europe: €599.99, previously €399.99
UK: £519.99, previously £349.99
Xbox Series X Digital 1TB
Europe: €749.99, previously €549.99
UK: £619.99, previously £449.99
Xbox Series X 1TB With Disc Drive
Europe: €799.99, previously €599.99
UK: £669.99, previously £499.99
The increases range from €150 to €200 in Europe and from £130 to £170 in the UK.
Microsoft Blames Rising Component Costs
Microsoft said its worldwide pricing update reflects the continuing pressure on hardware and component costs. The company increased US prices by $100 for 512GB consoles and $150 for 1TB models at the same time.
The Xbox maker is also discontinuing its 2TB console model as part of the change.
Memory and storage prices have been under pressure across the consumer electronics industry. The rapid construction of AI infrastructure has increased demand for chips, memory and data-storage components, leaving console manufacturers competing for some of the same production capacity.
Microsoft is not the only gaming company dealing with more expensive hardware. Sony and Nintendo have also adjusted console pricing in different markets. Still, the size of Microsoft’s latest increase stands out, particularly for the Series S.
Older Xbox Hardware Is Getting More Expensive, Not Cheaper
Console buyers normally expect prices to fall as hardware gets older. Manufacturing improves, component costs decline and companies introduce discounted bundles to keep sales moving.
This generation has gone in the opposite direction.
The disc-based Xbox Series X launched in the US at $499 in 2020. Following several increases, that same 1TB model now carries a US price of $799.99. Microsoft has effectively added $300 to the launch price of a console approaching its sixth year on the market.
Europe is seeing the same pattern. The Series X has moved well beyond its earlier price, while the Series S no longer sits comfortably in budget territory.
For players who already own an Xbox, the change may not matter immediately. New customers face a stranger calculation. A current-generation Xbox now costs substantially more, even as the industry moves closer to whatever comes after the Series X and Series S.
Sources
- The Verge – Xbox prices are increasing by up to €200 or £170
- Xbox Wire – Updated Xbox Console Prices
- Video Games Chronicle – Xbox Console Price Increases in Europe and the UK