Overview
- The new retail prices went live on August 1, 2026, with 512GB models rising by £130/€150 and 1TB models by £170/€200 across the UK and Europe.
- Regional increases are steeper in local currency than the US dollar rises Microsoft announced in June, pushing some Series S prices close to original Series X launch levels.
- Microsoft says console storage and memory prices have climbed more than 2.5 times and has discontinued the 2TB Series X SKU as part of the lineup change.
- The hardware moves follow recent Xbox restructuring that included 3,200 layoffs, the divestment of studios, and a reported $1.7 billion drop in Xbox revenue.
- Analysts and consumers warn higher component costs could raise next‑generation launch prices, squeeze affordability for buyers, and push manufacturers to seek revenue from software and store sales to offset hardware losses.