Console Gaming Is Starting to Feel Kinda Premium

I still remember when $60 felt like the absolute ceiling for a new game. Now? Microsoft’s bumping first-party Xbox titles to $79.99, raising console prices across the board, and tweaking accessory prices to match. That’s a lot of money to stay in the ecosystem—and it’s not just a US thing, this is happening worldwide.

And here’s what caught my eye: these new prices look suspiciously close to what Nintendo’s asking for Switch 2 gear. Microsoft may not be saying it out loud, but the math is starting to look familiar.

💸 What’s Actually Going Up?

Consoles:

• Xbox Series X (1TB): Up to $599.99 (was $499.99)
• Xbox Series S (512GB): $379.99 (was $299.99)
• Xbox Series S (1TB): $429.99
• Galaxy Black 2TB Special Edition: $729.99 😬

Accessories:

• Wireless Controller: $64.99
• Wireless Headset: $119.99

Games:

• New Xbox first-party games: $79.99 (up from $69.99)

What’s staying put—for now: Xbox Game Pass pricing.

Microsoft is calling this a “recommended retail pricing adjustment,” but the result is the same: you’ll see these numbers at checkout.

🧐 Is Microsoft Just Following Nintendo?

Let’s compare real quick. Here are a few of Nintendo’s recent Switch 2 accessory prices:

• Pro Controller: $84.99
• Joy-Cons (Pair): $94.99
• Dock Set: $119.99
• Carrying Case: $85 (yes, really)

Even the 256GB microSD card they recommend? That’s $60.

If you’re a console maker watching Nintendo pull this off without serious pushback, it makes sense to test the waters yourself. Microsoft isn’t just reacting to inflation—they’re adjusting to what the market now expects.

And honestly? A $64.99 Xbox controller doesn’t seem quite as painful when the competition’s charging $85–95 for theirs.

🎮 What It Feels Like As a Gamer

I recently needed a second controller for some old-school couch multiplayer, and even though I’d seen the price, it still stung at checkout. Add a few games and maybe a headset, and suddenly you’re brushing up against PC build territory.

There’s also a creeping feeling that console gaming—once the “easy, affordable” route—is getting harder to justify if you’re not using something like Game Pass. Thankfully, that hasn’t gone up (yet), which keeps Xbox from feeling totally out of reach.

But it’s clear: if you want the full experience, the days of “just buy a console and you’re set” are over.

Trevor Score: 6/10 — Strategic, but It Hurts

This isn’t a formal review — it’s just how I felt using this thing. A gut-check from someone who actually used it.

I get the strategy. The pricing isn’t out of step with competitors, and inflation’s real. But it doesn’t feel good. There’s no new hardware boost, no redesigned controller to soften the blow. Just higher prices, quietly rolled out.

The only saving grace is Game Pass staying stable—for now.

Final Verdict: Prices Are Up, Expectations Are Changing

Microsoft isn’t doing anything shocking here—but they are clearly responding to the new pricing normal set by Nintendo. And maybe testing how far they can go without losing goodwill.

Whether this works depends on what comes next. If Game Pass stays steady and new games deliver, people might tolerate the pinch. But if this is just the start of a drip-feed of price hikes? That’s going to wear thin.

Closing Thought

If your controller’s still working, treat it like gold. Might be the last time you hold a sub-$70 gamepad in your hands.