![Xbox Game Pass image showing Xbox Series X and Series S](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MVYKcgphEsg4XgNVDRax9E-415-80.jpg)
Bad news for fans of blockbuster video games: they're about to get a lot more expensive on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X. Speaking to IGN, Microsoft has confirmed that key first-party titles such as Forza Motorsport, Starfield and Redfall will be the first titles to get a $10 price hike, taking their RRP up to a whopping $69.99. Other countries' pricing hasn't been revealed but you can pretty much guarantee it's going to be £69 in the UK.
That's the bad news. The good news is that these games are still going to be on Game Pass, so unless Microsoft puts the price of that up, too, Game Pass is going to be even better value than it already is.
Why are Xbox game prices going up?
Microsoft isn't the only big firm putting game prices up: Sony, Take-Two Interactive and Ubisoft are doing it too. Part of the reason, we're told, is that these games are horrifically expensive to make; part of it, Microsoft says, is that it's been doing its best to keep prices down while the cost of everything goes up but can only do that for so long.
Back in September, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said that "We’ve held price on our console, we’ve held price on games and our subscription. I don’t think we’ll be able to do that forever. I do think at some point we’ll have to raise some prices on certain things, but going into this holiday we thought it was really important that we maintain the prices that we have."
That's the holiday period we're in now. It's interesting that Spencer said Microsoft had been deliberately keeping the price of games and consoles lower, because that strongly suggests that console prices are going to head upwards in 2023 too. Again, that's not just a Microsoft thing; Sony's been doing it too, and Nintendo won't rule out an increase in the price of the Switch either. If you've been thinking about getting an Xbox, now might be a smart time to buy.
Upgrade to smarter living
Get the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products straight to your inbox.
Writer, musician and broadcaster Carrie Marshall has been covering technology since 1998 and is particularly interested in how tech can help us live our best lives. Her CV is a who’s who of magazines, newspapers, websites and radio programmes ranging from T3, Techradar and MacFormat to the BBC, Sunday Post and People’s Friend. Carrie has written more than a dozen books, ghost-wrote two more and co-wrote seven more books and a Radio 2 documentary series; her memoir, Carrie Kills A Man, was shortlisted for the British Book Awards. When she’s not scribbling, Carrie is the singer in Glaswegian rock band Unquiet Mind (unquietmindmusic).
-
What are gorilla rows: the underrated strength exercise you’re not doing for a stronger back
It will also give your core a run for its money
By Bryony Firth-Bernard Published
-
iPhone 17 slated for one massive camera upgrade which photographers will love
The question is, will it be too technical for non-photographers?
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
Xbox Game Pass gets the latest Call of Duty – you can download it right now
Game Pass gets COD
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
100s of Xbox games could soon be yours without needing Game Pass
Xbox allegedly plans to offer Cloud Gaming separately
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Massive Microsoft outage shuts down Sky News, Xbox Live and a whole lot more
Outage takes down services worldwide
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Xbox Game Pass getting a trio of brand new games real soon – including a promising Zelda-alike
Shaping up to be a busy week for the subscription
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Xbox Game Pass could get Call of Duty a lot sooner than October – this month, in fact
Hot on the heels of pricing changes comes a classic COD
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Xbox Game Pass gets a major overhaul, and not necessarily for the better
Pricing and tier structure changing forever
By Rik Henderson Published
-
How to play Xbox games on any TV without needing an Xbox
All you need is a Fire TV Stick 4K and Game Pass
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Xbox Game Pass getting Activision's best game of the decade – and it's not Call of Duty
More Activision games should be arriving at last
By Max Freeman-Mills Published