"A few years ago, Microsoft offered some of the best deals in gaming. The spartan Xbox Series S was well-priced at $300 (and you could often find it even cheaper if you hunted for deals). A $15 monthly subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offered a vast catalog of games new and old. But my, how things have changed in 2025."
"And that was before the Game Pass bump. It seems Microsoft is betting that increased revenue from die-harts will offset the inevitable losses from people who decide that the new price isn't worth it. Subscriber inertia is definitely a real thing, and devoted Xbox owners who get a lot of use out of Game Pass may not bat an eye (or may forget to check their bank statements.)"
Microsoft increased prices across its nearly five-year-old Xbox hardware lineup and Game Pass in 2025. The Series S with 512GB now costs $400, while Series X pricing starts at $600 for digital and $650 with a disc drive, higher than recent retail prices. Game Pass Ultimate rose 50 percent to $30 a month after prior increases from $17 to $20. Other console makers also raised prices, with Switch and Switch 2 costs increasing and PS5 prices up modestly. Microsoft appears to rely on subscriber inertia to retain revenue despite potential cancellations.
Read at Engadget
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