.png)
A new industry leak has sparked concern across the Xbox community, with claims that Microsoft is preparing to increase the price of its current-gen consoles “very soon” — and that the decision is being driven by what an insider describes as a long-standing manufacturing “error” and memory-shortage issues.
Insider: Price Increase Coming Amid Memory Shortage
The report, first published by Metro UK, quotes a source familiar with Microsoft’s hardware division who says the company recently discovered both a cost-model error and a memory supply bottleneck that have impacted margins. The insider claims the price rise will come in selected markets ahead of a broader global rollout. 1
Key points from the leak include:
- A **memory shortage** driving higher component costs, especially for SSDs and GDDR memory used in Xbox Series X/S. 2
- An internal “pricing error” believed to have undervalued console manufacturing costs for months. The company now reportedly needs to correct the pricing to protect margins.
- The budget model (Xbox Series S) is expected to absorb the first adjustment, with the flagship Xbox Series X possibly following depending on region and retail agreements.
- The announcement could arrive **sooner than expected**, with some insiders suggesting changes may be visible in this quarter. 3
Why This Matters
This would mark a significant shift. Microsoft previously adjusted hardware pricing in a few territories, but a broad-based hike in major markets (US, UK, EU) would signal deeper pricing pressure and could affect product accessibility. It also coincides with Microsoft’s expanding investment in cloud services and gaming infrastructure — a capital-intensive push that may be squeezing unit margins.
Microsoft’s Official Position
As of now, Microsoft has not issued any public statement addressing these claims. No official pricing adjustments have appeared on the Microsoft Store or been confirmed by global retailers. If true, the change may happen quietly ahead of a formal announcement.
What to Watch Next
- Any official Microsoft statement or pricing update posted on the Xbox store.
- Region-specific price hikes, especially in EMEA or Asia-Pacific, which often precede US changes.
- News of extended promotions or hardware bundles as Microsoft seeks to mitigate reaction to price rises.
- Impact on the Xbox Game Pass strategy — will console affordability slow if hardware costs rise?
Note: These details are based on leaks and insider reports. Microsoft has not confirmed a console price increase or the memory shortage/cost error claims.