Former Blizzard President Criticizes Microsoft's Xbox Price Hikes
A stern critique of Microsoft's recent price increases for Xbox consoles was voiced by the former president of Blizzard Entertainment.
Microsoft has faced sharp criticism due to its consecutive price hikes for the Xbox consoles. The former president of Blizzard, Mike Ybarra, expressed his discontent regarding these increases, labeling them as profit-focused rather than due to external economic pressures. He remarked, “Console price increases are not tariff issues, they are profit issues. And the reason why profits are not where they should be is a far, far deeper issue vs. the tariff excuse.” Ybarra’s commentary comes amid news that the Xbox Series X is set to see its price rise to $800, a significant jump from its prior cost.
Here’s how recent price changes for the Xbox Series line up:
| Model | Launch Price | Price After May Increase | Price After October Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S (512 GB) | $300 | $380 | $400 |
| Xbox Series S (1 TB) | $350 | $430 | $450 |
| Xbox Series X Digital (1 TB) | $450 | $550 | $600 |
| Xbox Series X (1 TB) | $500 | $600 | $650 |
| Xbox Series X (2 TB) | $600 | $730 | $800 |
In contrast, the PlayStation 5 also witnessed some price adjustments this year, albeit notably lesser than Microsoft’s, indicating a trend of rising gaming hardware costs.
