Microsoft announced on Thursday that it has increased the prices of several products, including its consoles and controllers. The price increases went into effect immediately.
Starting Thursday, the cost of the Xbox Series S 512 console jumped from $299.99 to $379.99. Its more expensive Xbox Series S 1TB console has increased by $100, now costing $429.99.
The price hikes come as President Donald Trump has implemented a 10% tariff on all imported goods and a 145% tax on imports from China.
While Microsoft has not directly blamed tariffs for the price hikes, most Xbox products are made in China.
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Microsoft stated, “We recognize that these adjustments are difficult; however, they were carefully implemented considering current market trends and increasing development expenses. Moving forward, our priority remains providing additional methods to enjoy various games on all devices and maintaining value for Xbox gamers.”
The firm announced that the typical cost for upcoming premium games will go up from $69.99 to $79.99 towards the end of the year.
A few weeks ago, President Trump granted an exception for certain electronic goods produced by U.S. firms when they’re imported from China. However, video game consoles did not make the list of exemptions.
Earlier, Nintendo revealed that they were delaying pre-sales for their eagerly awaited Switch 2 gaming console due to uncertainties related to tariffs. According to Nintendo, pre-orders for theSwitch 2 units will commence on April 9 at certain U.S. stores. They also noted that sales of these consoles would start on June 5 with each unit priced at $449.99.
After President Trump postponed imposing tariffs on Japan—where Nintendo is headquartered—the company ultimately decided to maintain theSwitch 2 system’s price at $449.99.