Microsoft promises not to increase price of Xbox consoles in response to Sony

News

Reading time icon 2 min. read

Calendar icon Published on

by Radu Tyrsina 

published on

Share this article

Readers help support Windows Report. We may get a commission if you buy through our links. Tooltip Icon

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial team Read more

After Sony announced that it would be increasing the price of its PlayStation 5 consoles in several regions outside of the US yesterday, many naturally wondered if Microsoft would follow suit with its Xbox Series X family of consoles.

Fortunately, Microsoft confirmed today to CNET that the company currently has no plans to increase the prices of the Xbox Series X generation of consoles which include the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.

“Our Xbox Series S suggested retail price remains at $299 and the Xbox Series X is $499. This also applies to other markets and their current pricing,” a Microsoft spokesperson informed CNET via email.

It should be noted though that the spokesperson also said that “We are constantly evaluating our business to offer our fans great gaming options” which implies that the situation could change in the future.

Sony’s PS5 price increases does change the gaming console market quite a bit as now there’s around a US$100 price difference between a current gen PlayStation console and its Xbox equivalent in some regions such as Australia and New Zealand. This could naturally become a deciding factor for many consumers looking to buy a new console.

Something else to keep in mind is the growth of Xbox Cloud Gaming which allows subscribers of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to play Xbox console games on their smartphone, computer, and some smart TVs without having to purchase an Xbox console at all.

In a post on the official PlayStation blog, Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO, Jim Ryan, claimed that inflation was the main driving factor in the PS5 price change.

Do you think the PS5’s price increase will be a major factor going forward? Let us know in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter for more gaming and tech news.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina Shield

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web. Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they're looking for.