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'Nobody was buying them so it doesn't really matter' — Xbox console price hike hits the UK
Microsoft has implemented significant price increases for its Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X consoles in the UK, with the Xbox Series S now costing £429.99 and the Xbox Series X £669.99. These hikes follow similar increases by Sony for the PlayStation 5 and are attributed to rising component costs, particularly RAM, and global economic pressures. The price changes have been met with strong negative reactions from consumers and have led to discussions about the declining sales of Xbox consoles.
Microsoft confirms increased Xbox prices in the UK and Europe
Microsoft has confirmed increased prices for Xbox consoles in the UK and Europe, with the 512GB model rising by £130/€150 and the 1TB model by £170/€200. The company cited higher storage and memory costs as the primary reason for these adjustments. This follows recent restructuring within Xbox, including layoffs and a reported decline in Xbox revenue.
Xbox-prishöjningarna är här – upp till 200 euro dyrare i Europa
Microsoft has implemented price increases for its Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X consoles in Europe, effective August 1st. The Xbox Series S will now range from 500 to 600 euros, while the Xbox Series X will cost between 780 and 800 euros, depending on the model. These increases represent a significant jump from the original launch prices.
Xbox Won’t Leave Steam Leading Up to Project Helix Launch – Rumor
A rumor suggests Xbox will not remove its games from Steam before the launch of Project Helix, with sources indicating no immediate plans to leave the platform. Xbox is heavily investing in PC gaming, with Game Pass targeting a different audience than Steam users. Microsoft may also open the Battle.net launcher to third-party developers following the Activision Blizzard acquisition.
Microsoft Planned to Continue Supporting Discs Before Xbox Reset – Rumor
A rumor suggests Microsoft may have planned to continue supporting physical disc drives for Xbox consoles before a recent internal reset, primarily to ensure backwards compatibility. This contrasts with Sony's apparent move away from discs for future PlayStation consoles. The possibility of separate disc drives was also mentioned as a potential solution.
PlayStation’s Response to the Physical Disc Backlash Is Not Reassuring
Sony Group Corporation has confirmed its decision to cease new game disc production for PlayStation consoles starting January 2028, despite significant backlash from fans. The company cites the overall progression of digitalization as the primary reason, with CFO Lin Tao stating that the decision was carefully considered and will be cautiously moved forward. While acknowledging fan sentiment, Sony does not anticipate a significant short-term or long-term business impact, as digital sales already constitute the majority of their software revenue.
Xbox Series S Now Costs Almost As Much As A PS5 Did At Launch Following Huge UK Price Hike
Microsoft has significantly increased the prices of its Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles in the UK. The Xbox Series S saw a price hike of £130, while the Xbox Series X increased by £170, making both consoles considerably more expensive.
Xbox consoles are now much more expensive in the EU and UK
Microsoft has increased the price of Xbox consoles in the European Union and the United Kingdom. The entry-level price for an Xbox now starts at 499.99€/£429.99 in these regions.
Sunday Consolidation
Xbox consoles in the UK and Europe are set to receive price increases, with details suggesting it may be more significant than initially anticipated. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Microsoft may continue to offer disc drive support on its next-generation consoles, contrasting with potential moves by Sony to phase out physical media.
AI Yi-Yi!
The article discusses the imminent surge in AI computing power, suggesting that the United States' lead over China in AI development is diminishing. Major tech companies like Microsoft and Nvidia are expected to play significant roles in this expansion.
One of Kerbal Space Program's biggest inspirations was a promotional Flash game for Top Gear: 'That was the most similar game to KSP that I could find back then'
Felipe Falanghe, the creator of Kerbal Space Program, discusses his gaming history and inspirations, including Flight Simulator 4 and a promotional Flash game for Top Gear. He shares his current playtime with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and BattleBit, and his enduring love for Flight Simulator and Fragile Allegiance. Falanghe also touches on his journey into game development and the initial unambitious scope of Kerbal Space Program.
Xbox UK and Europe console price hikes revealed - and it's even worse than we expected
Xbox has implemented significant price increases for its consoles in the UK and Europe, with the Xbox Series X now costing up to 34% more and the Xbox Series S up to 48.5% more. These hikes are attributed to memory shortages and follow a recent 10% drop in Xbox's content and services revenue and a wave of layoffs across the division.
Xbox Could Potentially Have a “Window” to Leave Steam – Rumor
A rumor suggests that Microsoft, under Xbox's new strategy, might be planning to exit Steam for its PC releases. While Jez Corden of Windows Central reported that Microsoft has plans which could allow them to leave Steam, he also expressed doubt due to the significant revenue involved. This speculation follows recent Xbox console exclusive announcements and price hikes.
Xbox Series X is now £670 in UK as Microsoft sneak price hike out at weekend
Microsoft has implemented significant price increases for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in the UK, with the Xbox Series X now costing £669.99 and the Xbox Series S starting at £429.99. These hikes, attributed to component costs, come at a time when Xbox console sales are reportedly low and follow similar price adjustments for the PlayStation 5 and anticipated increases for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Xbox Series X/S Prices Hiked in Europe and UK By Up to €200/£170
Microsoft has increased the prices of Xbox Series X and Series S consoles in Europe and the UK by up to €200 and £170 respectively. The Xbox Series S now starts at €449.99/£429.99, while the Xbox Series X digital edition is priced at €749.99/£619.99. These price hikes are attributed to ongoing memory shortages and may impact sales, especially with upcoming titles like Grand Theft Auto 6 and the exclusive Gears of War: E-Day.
Steam gamers have spoken: innovative indies like Palworld continue to thrive while traditional triple-A flounders for a foothold
PC gaming on Steam in 2026 shows a strong trend of innovative indie titles like Palworld thriving, while traditional AAA games struggle to gain traction. Despite industry layoffs, unique projects from smaller teams are resonating with players, contrasting with the performance of recent AAA releases such as Halo: Campaign Evolved and Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced.
Saturday Tech Bits
Microsoft is implementing optimizations in Windows 11 to improve performance on systems with 8GB of RAM, addressing a potential memory shortage. These changes aim to reduce the operating system's memory footprint and also mitigate wear on Solid State Drives.
Why does nobody like racing video games anymore? - Reader's Feature
A reader explores the decline of the racing game genre, noting the shift from popular arcade titles like Need For Speed and Burnout to more niche simulators. While Forza Horizon remains a success, the author questions why the genre has lost mainstream appeal, suggesting it may be overshadowed by open-world games or a general lack of innovation.
AI Yi-Yi!
Major technology companies are investing over $1 trillion in artificial intelligence infrastructure, with an additional $745 billion expected in 2026. The article also briefly mentions Claude publishing malicious code.
Unsurprisingly, It’s PlayStation, Not You, Benefiting From Tariff Refunds
Sony's PlayStation division is benefiting from refunds on US tariffs that previously led to price increases for its hardware. While the company reported a significant increase in operating income attributed to these refunds, there is no indication they will be passed on to consumers who paid the higher prices. Similar situations have occurred with Nintendo, and class-action lawsuits have been filed against both companies regarding these tariff refunds and pricing practices.
