Xbox Prices in Europe and UK Surge by Up to €200 This Summer

If you were budgeting for a new Xbox, brace yourself. Microsoft quietly updated its online store and, as of August 1, raised console prices across the European Union and the United Kingdom — and the hikes are steeper than most expected.

Some increases top out at €200 or £170. That's a dramatic shift from the modest adjustments seen earlier in the year: in June the U.S. market recorded rises of roughly $108–$150, but European shoppers are now facing substantially larger bills. What used to feel like a routine refresh of regional pricing looks more like a reset.

The entry-level Xbox Series S now costs roughly $575 in Europe. Short sentence. Big impact.

Here are the new Microsoft Store prices as posted for the EU (euros) and the UK (pounds), with the old price and the size of the jump noted inline so you can see how quickly totals add up.

• EU prices:
  • Xbox Series S (512 GB): was €349.99 → now €499.99 (up €150, ≈43% increase)
  • Xbox Series S (1 TB): was €399.99 → now €599.99 (up €200)
  • Xbox Series X Digital (1 TB): was €549.99 → now €749.99 (up €200)
  • Xbox Series X (disc, 1 TB): was €599.99 → now €799.99 (up €200, ≈33% increase)
• UK prices:
  • Xbox Series S (512 GB): was £299.99 → now £429.99 (up £130, ≈43% increase)
  • Xbox Series S (1 TB): was £349.99 → now £519.99 (up £170)
  • Xbox Series X Digital (1 TB): was £449.99 → now £619.99 (up £170)
  • Xbox Series X (disc, 1 TB): was £499.99 → now £669.99 (up £170, ≈34% increase)

Put another way: the standard, higher-end Series X sits hundreds of dollars/pounds above its launch price in 2020. Microsoft’s flagship console now trades for roughly $300 more than the original $499.99 sticker. That’s not a subtle nudge — it’s a notable repositioning.

How should gamers and buyers react? For some, the jump will push new-console purchases into the realm of careful planning: sales windows, retailer bundles, or waiting for seasonal discounts will suddenly matter more. For others, subscription services and cloud gaming may look comparatively attractive if hardware costs keep climbing.

Why the hike? Microsoft hasn’t laid out a single reason tied to these specific changes. Currency fluctuations, global manufacturing pressures, higher logistics costs, and regional pricing strategies all get mentioned in boardroom conversations. Take your pick. The timing — a third wave of increases since May 2025 — suggests this is not a one-off experiment but a broader pricing strategy at work.

Retailers and regional partners will now have to decide whether to absorb margin shifts, lean on promotions, or pass the increases straight to consumers. Meanwhile, the rumor mill will churn and shoppers will compare alternatives more carefully than before. Will this change the balance between consoles and cloud services? Perhaps. Will it push more buyers toward bundles or secondhand markets? Quite possibly.

Either way, the Microsoft Store’s new numbers are now public and unavoidable. If you’re in the market, the smart move is simple: shop with a plan — and fast.