Hardware Pricing
Ongoing coverage on Hardware Pricing.
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It's not just the US: Xbox Series S is now more expensive than a Switch 2 in the UK and Europe, but probably not…
Microsoft has implemented price increases for its Xbox consoles in the UK and Europe, making the Xbox Series S more expensive than the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. The Xbox Series S now starts at £519.99 / €599.99 for the 1TB model and £429.99 / €499.99 for the 512GB model, while the Switch 2 will launch at £469.99 / €469.99. Nintendo also plans to increase Switch 2 prices soon.
'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.
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 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.
Something for the Weekend – 01/08/26
This week's gaming news includes Sony's cautious approach to physical media, Nvidia's reported graphics card price increase, and Double Fine regaining independence with layoffs. New game announcements include Thimbleweed Park 2 and a Croc 2 remaster, with Crazy Taxi: World Tour and Marathon's PvE mode receiving updates. PlayStation Plus August 2026 Essential games were revealed, and Xbox Network experienced downtime due to a licensing service issue.
Switch 2 Price Jumps to $499 on September 1: Buy Now or Wait?
Nintendo has announced that the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 will increase from $449.99 to $499.99 in the US on September 1. This price hike is attributed to rising memory chip costs, tariffs, and exchange rates. Additionally, the "Choose Your Game" bundle will be discontinued on the same date, meaning the $499.99 price will only include the console itself.
Xbox Series X/S Consoles Are Still Sold at a Loss Even After Price Hikes – Rumor
Despite price increases, Microsoft's Xbox Series X/S consoles are reportedly still sold at a loss of around $150 each, a situation expected to continue even after future price hikes. This financial strain may impact the pricing strategy for the upcoming 'Project Helix' console, which is rumored to be an open platform with a high price point due to reliance on hardware revenue. Reports also indicate that Xbox Ally users primarily subscribe to Game Pass rather than purchasing games directly, highlighting the dominance of platforms like Steam in the handheld market.
Amazon Gaming boss says high hardware prices could be good news for its Luna cloud gaming program
Amazon Gaming boss Jeffrey Gattis believes that high hardware prices could benefit Amazon's cloud gaming service, Luna. He suggests that as consoles and PCs become more expensive, more consumers may consider cloud gaming solutions. Gattis also noted that Amazon has a clearer gaming strategy now, focusing on reaching players who might be priced out of traditional hardware.
Amazon Luna boss thinks rising hardware prices could push more hardcore gamers to cloud gaming — 'You're going to see more people that are priced out of the market'
Amazon's gaming boss Jeff Gattis believes rising hardware prices for consoles and PCs could drive more core gamers towards cloud streaming services like Amazon Luna. He noted that current hardware costs, potentially reaching $1,000-$1,500, could price consumers out of the market. While not Amazon's primary strategy, Gattis sees this trend as a potential tailwind for cloud gaming adoption.
Evening Tech Bits
AMD is reportedly pricing its Helios Rack 40% higher than NVIDIA's second-generation Rubin, with confidence in customer willingness to pay a premium. The article also notes a changelog for Oracle VirtualBox version 7.2.
PC players can get our favorite controller for $50 less than PS5 and Xbox gamers right now
The Victrix Pro BFG controller, considered a top choice for PC gaming, is currently available for $50 less than its PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X counterparts. This discount is attributed to the PC version not requiring expensive official licensing, unlike the console editions. While the console versions are cross-compatible with PC, the PC-specific model is locked to PC gaming.
Valve see the great RAM shortage "getting worse," just in case you were clinging to hopes of a cheaper Steam Machine
Valve engineers Yazan Aldehayyat and Pierre-Loup Griffais state that the global RAM shortage is worsening, with retail supply lagging behind bulk supply by three to six months. This ongoing shortage, exacerbated by demand from AI data centers, is contributing to increased hardware prices and is expected to persist for the foreseeable future.
The Steam Machine's $1,000+ price tag is unlikely to come down anytime soon as Valve says the memory crisis is…
Valve engineer Yazan Aldehayyat stated that the memory chip crisis is worsening, impacting the production and pricing of the Steam Machine. He noted a significant lag between bulk supply observations and retail availability, with prices expected to remain high. The shortage is also limiting Valve's production capacity for the device.
Sky-high prices risk disaster for a console market struggling to grow | Opinion
The article analyzes the long-term risks of the current hardware pricing crisis in the console market, predicting a significant slump in unit sales over the next five years. It argues that this could lead to market stagnation and a failure to engage younger audiences, potentially jeopardizing the future of consoles as a primary gaming platform.
The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D chip is now available for $329
The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D processor is now available for purchase at a reduced price of $329. This offers a competitive option for consumers seeking reasonable specifications at an affordable cost.
The age of accessible Meta Quest prices could be coming to an end as rumors swirl about the Quest 4
Rumors suggest that the upcoming Meta Quest 4 headset could represent a significant upgrade over the current generation. This potential advancement may lead to an end to the accessible pricing that has characterized previous Meta Quest models.
GTA 6 won't help console sales says analysts as demand predicted to drop by 20%
Despite the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, analysts predict a significant drop in console sales for 2026 and further decline in 2027. S&P Global Market Intelligence forecasts sales to fall to 33.9 million units by the end of 2026, down from 42.1 million in 2025, citing high prices, component shortages, and a lack of major releases as key factors.
The first wave of Steam Machines are dropping. Here's what people think.
The initial reception for Valve's Steam Machine has been mixed, with early adopters noting its high price point compared to traditional consoles due to recent hardware inflation. While some users praise its ability to run PC games and quiet operation, others, including Shuhei Yoshida, have expressed concerns about long game boot times and overall performance. Reports of hardware failures, such as GPU issues leading to bricked units, have also surfaced, drawing parallels to the Xbox 360's 'Red-Ring of Death'.
Intel quietly bumps the price up of the best CPUs it's made in years to 'reflect current market dynamics'
Intel has quietly increased the recommended retail prices for its Core Ultra 200S Plus processors, including the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Core 5 250K Plus. The company cited 'current market dynamics,' rising supply chain costs, and strong demand as reasons for the price adjustments, which range from $20 to $40.
What kind of PS6 could justify a $1,000 price tag? | Opinion
The article speculates on how Sony could justify a potential $1,000 price tag for the PlayStation 6, suggesting a significant departure from current-gen hardware is necessary. It explores the challenges posed by rising component costs and the potential shift towards a digital-only, possibly more portable, console design, referencing the discontinuation of physical game sales and the success of the PlayStation Portal.
