On 1 August 2026, Xbox raised Series X and Series S prices across the UK and Europe. Series X consoles now cost up to €200 more in Europe and £170 more in the UK, driven by a global memory and storage component shortage. Microsoft announced the change back in June but only confirmed the full UK and European numbers when they went live.
Quick answer (featured snippet): On 1 August 2026, Xbox raised Series X and Series S prices across the UK and Europe. Series X consoles cost up to €200 more in Europe and £170 more in the UK, driven by a global memory and storage component shortage.
If you’ve been holding off on buying an Xbox — or you’re deciding whether to grab one now before things get worse — this guide gives you the exact new prices, the reason behind the hike, how it compares to PlayStation, and a clear recommendation on what to do next.
Table of Contents
- What Just Happened With Xbox Prices
- Full UK Xbox Price Breakdown
- Full Europe Xbox Price Breakdown
- How US Pricing Compares
- Why Did Xbox Raise Prices in 2026?
- Where the Xbox Game Pass Price Increase Stands Now
- Xbox vs PlayStation: Who Raised Prices More?
- Should You Buy an Xbox Now or Wait?
- Common Buyer Mistakes to Avoid
- Expert Tips for Getting the Best Deal
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Key Takeaways
- The Bottom Line
What Just Happened With Xbox Prices
Microsoft first flagged a worldwide Xbox price increase on 25 June 2026. At that point, it only shared the US figures: a $100 rise on 512GB models and a $150 rise on 1TB models. For weeks, players in the UK and Europe were left guessing what they’d actually pay.
That silence ended on 1 August, when the new prices went live. The jump turned out to be steeper in local currency than the dollar figures suggested. In Europe, most models climbed by €200. In the UK, most rose by £170. The entry-level Series S — the console Microsoft built as the cheap way into current-gen gaming — took one of the hardest hits relative to its old price.
The headline: a disc-equipped Xbox Series X that launched at €499.99 in 2020 now sells for €799.99. That’s the opposite of how console pricing usually works. Hardware normally gets cheaper as a generation matures, not €300 more expensive.
Full UK Xbox Price Breakdown
Here are the confirmed new UK prices as of 1 August 2026, taken from Xbox’s own storefront:
| Console | Old Price | New Price | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S (512GB) | £299.99 | £429.99 | +£130 |
| Xbox Series S (1TB) | £349.99 | £519.99 | +£170 |
| Xbox Series X Digital (1TB) | £449.99 | £619.99 | +£170 |
| Xbox Series X (1TB, Disc) | £499.99 | £669.99 | +£170 |
The disc-drive Series X now sits just under £700. For context, that’s roughly $903 when converted to dollars — about 12% more than what US buyers pay for the same machine.
Full Europe Xbox Price Breakdown
The European picture is harsher. Here’s the full list:
| Console | Old Price | New Price | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S (512GB) | €349.99 | €499.99 | +€150 |
| Xbox Series S (1TB) | €399.99 | €599.99 | +€200 |
| Xbox Series X Digital (1TB) | €549.99 | €749.99 | +€200 |
| Xbox Series X (1TB, Disc) | €599.99 | €799.99 | +€200 |
Two things stand out. First, the Series X disc model jumped from €599.99 to €799.99 — a 33% increase in one move. At current exchange rates, European buyers pay around $922 for a console that costs $799.99 in the US.
Second, the Series S 1TB now costs €599.99 — the same price the far more powerful Series X commanded before this hike. A machine marketed as the budget option now carries a price that used to buy the flagship.
Some regions saw their own variations. Japan absorbed a flat ¥30,000 increase, and Sweden’s Microsoft Store had already nudged prices up before the wider rollout.
How US Pricing Compares
American buyers got advance warning in June, and the increments were smaller in percentage terms:
- 512GB models: up $100
- 1TB models: up $150
- Xbox Series X (Disc): from $649.99 to $799.99
The takeaway is that the UK and European hikes are materially steeper than the US changes once you account for local currency. Microsoft framed the increase as a worldwide adjustment, but players outside the US shouldered a bigger share of it.
Why Did Xbox Raise Prices in 2026?
The core reason is a supply-side one: a global crunch in memory and storage components. Prices for the chips that go into consoles — RAM and solid-state storage in particular — have surged. Those parts sit inside every Series S and Series X, so when component costs climb, the hardware gets more expensive to build.
This isn’t unique to Xbox. It’s an industry-wide squeeze, which is why rivals moved at the same time (more on that below). What makes the Xbox situation different is the sales context. Microsoft no longer publishes hardware numbers, but outside estimates put lifetime Series X|S sales at roughly 35 million, against more than 95 million PlayStation 5 units. When a platform is already selling far fewer machines, a price rise of this size risks pushing casual buyers toward the competition rather than protecting margins.
It’s worth being clear-eyed here: a component shortage is a real, verifiable pressure, not an excuse. But the size of the regional increases — especially the €200 jumps — reflects business decisions layered on top of that pressure, not just raw part costs.
Where the Xbox Game Pass Price Increase Stands Now
Because “Xbox price increase” and “Xbox Game Pass price increase” often get searched together, here’s the accurate current state — and it’s more nuanced than a simple hike.
Game Pass Ultimate has moved several times in recent years:
- July 2024 — Ultimate rose from $16.99 to $19.99 a month.
- October 2025 — Ultimate jumped from $19.99 to $29.99, a 50% increase in a single step. In the UK, it climbed from £14.99 to £22.99.
- April 2026 — After heavy backlash and rising cancellations, Microsoft cut Ultimate back to $22.99 (£16.99), and PC Game Pass dropped from $16.49 to $13.99.
So the most recent Game Pass move was actually a partial reversal, not a new increase. The trade-off attached to that cut: new Call of Duty titles no longer arrive in Game Pass on launch day. They now join the library roughly a year later, during the following holiday season, while Call of Duty games already in the catalogue stay put.
Bottom line for subscribers: the console price increase and the Game Pass changes are separate events. Ultimate today sits at $22.99 / £16.99 — higher than its pre-October-2025 price, but lower than the short-lived $29.99 peak.
Xbox vs PlayStation: Who Raised Prices More?
Sony faced the same component crisis and also raised PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro prices. For the first time, every major console maker is increasing hardware prices in the same window — a sign the pressure is real across the industry.
The difference is momentum. Sony’s consoles keep selling in large numbers, so a price rise there spreads across a huge install base. Xbox is raising prices on hardware that already moves far less, in some European markets where Series X stock has been thin or absent at retail for months. That combination — higher prices, lower availability — is why analysts see this hike widening, not closing, the gap between the two platforms this generation.
Should You Buy an Xbox Now or Wait?
Here’s practical guidance based on where prices sit today:
Buy now if:
- You’ll use the console heavily and want to lock in before further component-driven rises.
- You can find old stock still listed at pre-hike prices (some retailers hadn’t updated at launch).
- You value the disc drive for cheaper second-hand and physical games — that model saw the biggest jump, so buying it later could cost even more.
Wait if:
- You’re a casual player. At €799.99 / £669.99 for a disc Series X, the value case is weaker than it was, and Game Pass plus cloud streaming may cover your needs without buying hardware.
- You’re cross-shopping with PlayStation. Compare the total cost — console plus your preferred subscription and the games you actually play — before committing.
- You suspect a bundle or seasonal promotion is coming. Holiday periods often bring the discounts that soften a base-price increase.
The honest answer for most people: there’s no urgency to overpay. Prices rose because of supply costs, and if that pressure eases, the smart money waits for a bundle rather than paying full sticker at the peak.
Common Buyer Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming every retailer updated on day one. At launch, several European and UK stores still showed old prices or were out of stock at the previous price. Check multiple retailers before paying the new rate.
- Ignoring the digital vs disc math. The digital Series X is €50 / £50 cheaper, but you lose access to cheaper physical and pre-owned games. Over a couple of years, disc owners often spend less on software.
- Confusing the console hike with a Game Pass hike. They’re separate. Don’t cancel a subscription over a hardware price you weren’t going to pay anyway.
- Buying the Series S 1TB without comparing. At €599.99, it now overlaps with the far more capable Series X’s old price. Weigh raw performance, not just storage.
Expert Tips for Getting the Best Deal
- Track price-history tools for your region so you can spot whether a “deal” is actually below the new baseline.
- Prioritise bundles over standalone consoles. A console packed with a game or extra controller frequently delivers better real value than a bare unit at full price.
- Set stock alerts on major retailers. In markets where Series X availability is patchy, being ready to buy when stock lands matters more than chasing a small discount.
- Reassess the subscription that fits you. With Ultimate at $22.99 / £16.99 and cheaper Essential and Premium tiers available, match the plan to how you actually play rather than defaulting to the top tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much did the Xbox Series X increase in Europe? The disc-drive Xbox Series X rose from €599.99 to €799.99, and the digital Series X went from €549.99 to €749.99 — both a €200 increase, effective 1 August 2026.
2. How much is the Xbox Series X in the UK now? The 1TB disc Series X is now £669.99 (up from £499.99), and the digital Series X is £619.99 (up from £449.99). Both rose by £170.
3. What is the new Xbox Series S price? In Europe, the 512GB Series S is €499.99 and the 1TB is €599.99. In the UK, the 512GB is £429.99 and the 1TB is £519.99.
4. When did the Xbox price increase take effect? Microsoft announced it on 25 June 2026, and the new prices went live worldwide on 1 August 2026. The full UK and European figures were only confirmed at launch.
5. Why did Xbox raise console prices in 2026? Rising memory and storage component costs — a global chip supply crunch — pushed up manufacturing costs. The same pressure affected PlayStation and other hardware makers.
6. Is there a new Xbox Game Pass price increase in 2026? No new increase came with the console hike. Game Pass Ultimate rose to $29.99 in October 2025, then was cut to $22.99 (£16.99) in April 2026 after backlash.
7. Did PlayStation prices go up too? Yes. Sony raised PS5 and PS5 Pro prices in the same period due to the same component crisis, making 2026 the first time every major console maker hiked prices together.
8. Is the Xbox more expensive in Europe than in the US? Yes. A disc Series X costs about $922 equivalent in Europe versus $799.99 in the US. The UK equivalent works out around $903 — roughly 12% above the US price.
9. How much did the disc Series X cost at launch? It launched at €499.99 in 2020. At €799.99 today, that’s €300 more than its original price — unusual for hardware late in a console generation.
10. Which Xbox model saw the biggest increase? Most Series X models and the 1TB Series S rose by €200 in Europe. In percentage terms, the disc Series X’s jump from €599.99 to €799.99 is a 33% increase.
11. Should I buy an Xbox now or wait for a price drop? If you’ll use it heavily or find old stock at the old price, buying now makes sense. Casual players are usually better off waiting for a bundle or seasonal promotion.
12. Will Xbox prices go back down? There’s no confirmed rollback. Prices rose because of component costs, so any relief would likely come through bundles and promotions rather than a lower base price.
13. Does the price increase affect existing Xbox owners? No. It only applies to new console purchases. If you already own an Xbox, nothing changes for your hardware.
14. What’s the difference between the digital and disc Series X? The digital model has no disc drive and costs €50 / £50 less, but you can’t play physical discs or buy cheaper pre-owned games. The disc model costs more upfront but can save on software.
15. Is Game Pass a cheaper alternative to buying games now? For many players, yes. With day-one first-party releases included, Ultimate at $22.99 / £16.99 can offset the higher console cost — though new Call of Duty titles no longer arrive at launch.
Key Takeaways
- Xbox Series X and Series S prices rose across the UK and Europe on 1 August 2026.
- Europe: most models up €200; the disc Series X now €799.99.
- UK: most models up £170; the disc Series X now £669.99.
- The cause is a global memory and storage component shortage, not an isolated Xbox decision — PlayStation raised prices too.
- The Game Pass situation is separate: Ultimate peaked at $29.99 in October 2025, then dropped to $22.99 / £16.99 in April 2026.
- For casual buyers, waiting for a bundle often beats paying full price at the peak.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 Xbox price increase is one of the sharpest regional hikes of this console generation, and it lands hardest on UK and European buyers. The reasoning — a genuine component shortage — is real, but the scale of the €200 jumps reflects business choices on top of that pressure.
If you need an Xbox and can find old stock at the old price, act quickly. Everyone else has room to breathe: compare the full cost against PlayStation, match your subscription to how you actually play, and wait for a bundle rather than paying the peak sticker price.
Want to make the smartest call before you buy? Compare the new UK and EU prices in the tables above against your local retailer, check whether any store still lists pre-hike stock, and weigh a Game Pass subscription against buying games outright — that combination is where most players will save the most money right now.
References & Sources
- Xbox Wire — official Game Pass pricing update: news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/04/21/xbox-game-pass-update
- Video Games Chronicle (VGC) — UK & Europe console price breakdown: videogameschronicle.com
- ResetEra — confirmed regional price list (UK & EU): resetera.com
- TheGamer — Series X €200 hike and percentage analysis: thegamer.com
- GamingBolt — full SKU-by-SKU price comparison: gamingbolt.com
- Notebookcheck — Europe increase and Japan ¥30,000 detail: notebookcheck.net
- Forbes — Game Pass Ultimate April 2026 price cut: forbes.com
- IGN — Game Pass Ultimate October 2025 increase context: ign.com
Link to the official Xbox Wire and Microsoft Store pages as primary sources; reported figures are corroborated by the outlets above.
