


Microsoft announced massive price hikes on its Xbox consoles and accessories for U.S. consumers, thanks to economic uncertainty caused by President Donald Trump’s continued trade war.
Prices posted Thursday by Microsoft show the spikes for the aging gaming systems. The Xbox Series X, for instance ― which was released in 2020 ― has been raised from $499 to $599. And the Xbox Series S consoles have seen a price increase of $80.
“We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development,” Microsoft said in a statement. “Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players.”
Microsoft also announced price increases on Xbox controllers and video games.
The price hikes come amid Trump’s decision to place massive tariffs on other countries at the expense of U.S. consumers, who will see the effects as prices on household goods, consumer electronics, clothes, and more are expected to rise dramatically.
“Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday when asked about the damage tariffs will cause.
On top of that, the chaotic rollout of the policy set markets plunging, then surging, then plunging again — adding to fears of a recession and further dinging consumer confidence.
Microsoft’s move comes weeks after Nintendo announced it would delay U.S. preorders for the Switch 2 gaming console. In a statement, Nintendo said the delay was “to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.”