- Fans are not happy with Microsoft raising Xbox Series S|X prices for the second time this year.
- They are not entirely convinced that tariffs are responsible for both price hikes.
- Many now believe this is a strategic move from Microsoft as it prepares to exit gaming hardware altogether.
The Xbox Series S|X consoles have become an interesting example of Microsoft’s current relationship with the hardware market. Both consoles have sold around 30 million units since 2020, and Microsoft has only made matters worse by raising prices twice over the last few months.
Following the latest pricing update, the Xbox Series S and X cost $400 and $650, respectively. Many fans also believe this is Microsoft’s attempt at slowly phasing out its hardware division.
Why it matters: The Xbox division is generally doing better than ever, but hardware pricing has only gone up.
Over on Twitter, fans did not have a lot of positive words for Xbox and Microsoft after the latest announcement.
Many are convinced that these steps allude to the gaming giant’s exit from the hardware market. They think Microsoft is attempting to maximize the profit from each Xbox Series S|X unit sold since the consoles have completely lost momentum.
Prominent journalists like Ryan McCaffery also chimed in, arguing that Microsoft would be better off completely giving up on hardware at this point. The journalist compared Xbox’s current state to Sega’s position before the Japanese gaming giant abandoned hardware for good.
Just go full SEGA at this point
Various fans are still unwilling to believe that tariffs are entirely responsible for the price hikes. Instead, they think Microsoft is attempting to use the worldwide economy as an opportunity to gradually exit the console market.
It’s not tariffs. I think Microsoft is intentionally trying to price themselves out of the console market.
Ultimately, Microsoft’s intentions behind the price hike remain a mystery. The gaming giant has already committed to one more generation of console hardware, but it’s hard to see how Xbox hardware will survive if Microsoft continues to alienate consumers any further.
Perhaps Microsoft’s hardware future lies in collaborations with companies like ASUS and Lenovo for Xbox hardware.
Do you think fans are on to something here? Can you see Microsoft making more consoles in the future? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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