Microsoft has announced a price increase for its Xbox consoles starting August 1. The 512 GB models will rise by $100, while the 1 TB models will increase by $150. The company argues that the increase responds to rising storage and memory costs, stemming from the global component crisis. Additionally, the 2 TB model will be discontinued. For the family budget, buying an Xbox will be a heavier decision.
SSD storage and GDDR6 memory drive up production costs 💾
Microsoft's decision is directly linked to the rising cost of NAND flash memory chips and GDDR6 RAM, essential components in current consoles. The global semiconductor shortage has skyrocketed production costs for these elements, which represent a significant part of the final price. By eliminating the 2 TB model, the company aims to simplify its product line and focus on the most demanded variants, although the end user ends up paying more for fewer storage options.
The masterstroke: charging more for the same plastic 💸
Microsoft says it raises prices due to chip costs. But one suspects they are also testing how far the player's wallet can stretch. After all, if you already paid €500 for the console, what's another €150, right? And on top of that, they remove the 2 TB model. So, if you wanted space for your games, get ready to sell a kidney or settle for deleting titles every week. Accessibility goes on vacation.