Microsoft is raising the price of Xbox Series X and Xbox Game Pass

Microsoft is raising the prices of its Xbox Series X in most countries except for the US, Japan, Chile, Brazil, and Colombia in August. The Xbox maker is also increasing the monthly prices of its Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions for the first time next month, which will take the base Game Pass subscription for the consoles from $9.99 to $10.99 per month.

“We’ve held our prices for consoles in check for several years and have adjusted prices to reflect competitive conditions in each market,” Kari Perez, head of communications for Xbox, said in a statement. ledge,

Xbox Series X console pricing will largely match the price hike Sony announced for the PS5 last year, with the Xbox Series X starting at £479.99 in the UK, €549.99 in most European markets, CAD$649.99 in Canada and AUD$799.99 in Australia. Will start with August 1st. Xbox Series S pricing will not be adjusted in any market, remaining at $249.99.

While Xbox Series X pricing adjustments were expected after Sony’s move last year, Xbox head Phil Spencer also indicated in October that the pricing for subscriptions won’t be the same forever.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass for Console pricing will increase starting July 6. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will go from $14.99 to $16.99 (€14.99 / £12.99) per month. Base Xbox Game Pass for console pricing will also go up from $9.99 per month to $10.99 (€10.99 / £8.99). However, Microsoft is not changing PC Game Pass pricing.

If you’re an existing Game Pass monthly subscriber, these new recurring prices won’t go into effect until August 13th or September 13th in Germany. New Xbox Game Pass members will see the new prices immediately on July 6th. If you subscribed to Xbox Game Pass through an annual code, the new price won’t take effect until you go to renew your subscription.

Most markets will be affected by the Xbox Game Pass price increase, with the exception of some Game Pass console pricing that will remain the same in Norway, Chile, Denmark, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia.

Microsoft hasn’t changed its Xbox Game Pass pricing since it introduced subscriptions in 2017, and the company is keen to stress that this move is not related to its proposed acquisition of Blizzard. “These Game Pass price adjustments are not related to the Activision Blizzard deal, and are intended to match local market conditions,” says Perez.

Microsoft’s Xbox subscription changes follow a general trend in price increases over the past few years for entertainment subscriptions. Netflix raised prices again last year after gradually increasing prices in recent years, and Disney Plus and Hulu saw price hikes last year as well. Both Apple Music and Spotify have increased in price in most markets in recent years.

Nintendo has yet to adjust its Switch Online subscription service since launching it in 2018, and Sony only last year revamped its PlayStation Plus subscription with new PlayStation Plus Essentials, Plus Extra, and Plus Premium subscriptions for PlayStation owners. updated with.