"Based on challenging economic conditions," Sony was forced to increase the price of a new PS5 by anywhere from $20 to $50 USD last summer, depending on where you live. At the time, both Nintendo and Xbox said that they wouldn't increase the prices of their own home console systems, but it seems like Xbox might have come around to the idea of a pricier Xbox Series X.
According to Gamingdeputy, the price of an Xbox Series X has increased by 500 SEK in Sweden, or roughly $48. Head to Microsoft's online storefront in Sweden and you'll find the price of a new Xbox Series X is 6,195 SEK, while the price of a new Xbox Series S is 3,895 SEK. The Swedish gaming publication noted that there are still some physical retailers selling the Xbox Series S and its previous price of 3,300 SEK, but online retailers have adopted the new price.
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Xbox had said back in August that it didn't plan to match the PS5's price increase, but Xbox head Phil Spencer warned us that the current prices for games, Game Pass, and Xbox consoles were going to have to increase eventually. It looks like that time is now.
Microsoft Japan was first, with the price of a new Xbox Series X|S increasing by roughly 5000 yen on February 17, or roughly $40 USD. "After carefully evaluating the market condition in Japan, we have decided to change the suggested retail price of Xbox consoles in the country," Microsoft Japan wrote in a statement. "This price revision affects our customers and was a difficult decision to make, but going forward we will continue to provide the ultimate Xbox experience that our customers expect."
Microsoft’s Swedish offices haven’t released a statement, but you can expect it to be along the same lines. So far, there’s no word of a price increase happening in the United States, but it probably won’t be long.