Xbox Price Increase: Buy Now or Wait for Next‑Gen?

Our Verdict: Most People Should Wait, Not Rush to Buy Xbox Now

The Xbox price increase refers to Microsoft raising the cost of current‑generation Xbox Series S and Series X consoles in response to sharply higher console RAM costs and storage component prices across the gaming industry, forcing buyers to reassess gaming console timing and decide whether to buy Xbox now or wait for next‑generation hardware. For most people, the smartest move is to wait rather than racing to beat the price hike. Here’s why: both the Xbox Series S and Series X are six‑year‑old machines heading into the later stretch of a typical console cycle, at a time when prices would usually fall instead of climbing. You should only lock in today’s hardware if you’re keen to play on console right away and know you’ll get heavy use over the next few years; otherwise, preserving cash for next‑gen makes more sense.

What’s Driving the Xbox Price Increase?

The upcoming Xbox price increase is being driven by a spike in console RAM costs and storage components, which Microsoft says have risen by more than 2.5x and could double again by fall 2027. Effective Aug. 1, Xbox console prices will increase worldwide by USD 100 (approx. RM460) for the 512GB model and USD 150 (approx. RM690) for the 1TB versions. Recommended pricing will move as follows: Xbox Series S 512GB from USD 399.99 (approx. RM1,840) to USD 499.99 (approx. RM2,300), Series S 1TB from USD 449.99 (approx. RM2,070) to USD 599.99 (approx. RM2,760), Xbox Series X Digital from USD 599.99 (approx. RM2,760) to USD 749.99 (approx. RM3,450), and Xbox Series X from USD 649.99 (approx. RM2,990) to USD 799.99 (approx. RM3,680). Microsoft notes that consoles are often sold below manufacturing cost, so component shocks hit them harder than phones or laptops.

Why Waiting Often Beats Buying Xbox Now

There is a real window to buy Xbox now at existing prices before the Xbox price increase takes effect on Aug. 1, and current discounts have temporarily dropped the Xbox Series S to USD 350 (approx. RM1,610) and the Series X to USD 573 (approx. RM2,640). But those sale prices are still above launch figures of USD 300 (approx. RM1,380) for Series S and USD 500 (approx. RM2,300) for Series X back in 2020, and below deals seen in later years, when one outlet picked up a Series X under USD 400 (approx. RM1,840) and Series S at USD 250 (approx. RM1,150). In other words: today’s "discounts" are historically expensive for this hardware. Both consoles are entering their sixth year, which is typically when hardware gets cheaper and bundles improve, not when prices start climbing. Unless you need a console right now, paying a premium for aging hardware is a poor use of your budget.

Next‑Gen Consoles, Alternatives, and Industry‑Wide Pressure

Gaming console timing matters because current‑gen Xbox hardware is edging toward the end of its run. With a typical seven‑year cycle, reports that Microsoft plans to provide next‑generation hardware to game studios as early as 2027 strengthen the case that new consoles are not far off. At the same time, most Xbox first‑party titles, including recent releases, already appear on PC and cloud platforms, making the need for an Xbox box itself less critical for many players. This decision is set against industry‑wide supply pressure: console storage and memory prices have soared, and other platforms are hiking prices too, including increases for PlayStation 5, a USD 50 (approx. RM230) bump for Nintendo Switch 2, and up to USD 300 (approx. RM1,380) more for Steam Deck. That means waiting is not only about Xbox; you should weigh whether another platform or a gaming PC gives better value while prices across consoles remain high.

How to Decide: Your Priorities vs. the Price Hike

You should make this call based on how you play, what you own already, and how sensitive you are to the Xbox price increase. If you mainly play multiplatform titles that already run on PC, Steam, or cloud services, owning an Xbox might not add much value today. Add in Microsoft’s rough stretch—studio closures, layoffs, weaker exclusivity—and the argument for holding out until next‑gen becomes even stronger. On the other hand, if your friends are on Xbox, you prefer a living‑room console, and you know you’ll log hundreds of hours in the next few years, buying before Aug. 1 protects you from the coming USD 100–150 (approx. RM460–690) hike per console. Also remember that Microsoft plans to expand Buy Now, Pay Later options and push cheaper refurbished units through its store, giving budget‑conscious buyers more flexibility even as RAM and storage costs climb.

• Buy the Xbox Series X if you want a powerful living‑room console now and will play often enough to justify paying current prices before they climb by USD 150 (approx. RM690).
• Skip the Xbox Series X if most of your gaming happens on PC or cloud services and you’d rather wait for next‑generation Xbox hardware expected after studios receive dev kits from 2027 onward.
• Buy the Xbox Series S if you want the lowest‑cost entry into the Xbox ecosystem and can grab it near today’s temporary USD 350 (approx. RM1,610) sale instead of the higher post‑hike price.
• Skip the Xbox Series S if you’re price sensitive and prefer to wait for deeper discounts on current consoles or more future‑proof next‑gen systems once the component crisis stabilizes.
• Buy the current Xbox lineup if your friends and favorite multiplayer games are there and you care more about playing together now than about owning the latest hardware later.
• Skip the current Xbox lineup if you are unsure how often you will use a console and don’t want to commit hundreds at a time when six‑year‑old hardware is getting more expensive, not cheaper.