Earlier this Summer, Microsoft raised the prices of their respective Xbox consoles across Europe and the US, with the Xbox Series S seeing a price increase of 27% ($299.99 to $379.99) in the US and an increase of 17% (€299.99 to €349.99) in Europe.
Microsoft released a statement on their website regarding the price increase, saying, "We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development."
Since then, the price increase has finally hit the UK, with the Xbox Series X now priced at £499.99 from £449.99 and the Series S priced at £299.99 from £249.99.
In comparison, the PlayStation 5 is priced at £479.99, and the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition is priced at £429.99.
Thankfully, it's not all bad news, as gamers have found ways to still save on their console purchases regardless of the price increase from Microsoft. Via the Xbox website, Microsoft offers certified refurbished consoles at a lower cost. The Xbox Series S is priced at £249.99 and the Xbox Series X is priced at £439.99.
Consumers can also pick up a bundle from most major retailers, where they can nab a discount. As an example, we've seen Smyths Toys offer a 10% discount on an Xbox Series S bundled with a 3-month subscription to Game Pass Ultimate.
With the rising costs of game consoles and video games, it's worth looking into alternative ways to save money wherever you can, such as gaming subscriptions. Services like Game Pass can net gamers massive savings throughout the year. We've conducted in-depth research on the major gaming subscriptions and how they'll save you money, so you don't have to.
All prices were correct at the time of writing this article.
