Looks like toys aren’t the only thing taking a hit by President Donald Trump’s incoherent trade war. On Thursday, Microsoft announced price increases on its popular Xbox Series X/S consoles as well as on many accessories and some first-party games.
The Xbox Series X will see its recommended retailer price increased by $100, to $599.99. The Xbox Series S, a lower-end model, will see an increase of $80, to $379.99 for the 512GB version and $429.99 for the 1TB version.
As if that weren’t bad enough, some first-party games will see their price jump by $10, from $69.99 to $79.99, starting this holiday season, which fits with Trump’s larger push to reduce the number of toys that kids get. Additionally, some Xbox controllers will see $10 to $20 increases depending on the model, as will some other accessories, like wireless headsets.
The price hikes on Xbox consoles and accessories went into effect on Thursday and mark the first price increases to the Xbox Series S console since its launch in 2020. (As gaming outlet IGN notes, the Series X has seen price increases before in other countries, though not in the U.S.)
“We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development. Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players,” Microsoft said in a statement.
Though the price hikes will impact all markets, gaming headsets will only see price increases in North American markets.
This is just the latest blow to the global gaming community. Nintendo, which pushed back the preorder date of its highly anticipated Switch 2 because of Trump’s tariffs, is increasing prices on many accessories. And in an attempt to maneuver around Trump’s incredibly high tariffs on China, the gaming giant has tried moving most of its manufacturing to Vietnam.
Related | Kids will get fewer toys thanks to tariffs—and Trump says deal with it
“Nintendo Switch 2 accessories will experience price adjustments from those announced on April 2 due to changes in market conditions,” Nintendo said in a statement, adding that “other adjustments to the price of any Nintendo product are also possible in the future depending on market conditions.”
Meanwhile, Amazon sellers have started increasing prices in anticipation of future costs. And the price of groceries—you know, the word Trump claimed he brought back into fashion—will increase on everything from coffee and alcohol to cheese and fruit.
Recent polling reveals that 89% of Americans are expecting price hikes due to Trump’s trade war, and public opinion about his job performance reflects that dissatisfaction.
As we move past the disastrous first 100 days of Trump’s second term, the devastation of his terrible trade policies is only just beginning.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the price increase for the Xbox Series S. Additionally, not all Xbox accessories, Xbox games, and Nintendo Switch 2 accessories will see price increases. Price hikes on select first-party Xbox games will not happen immediately, but rather, this holiday season. Lastly, the original article misstated the share of Americans who expect Trump’s tariffs to increase prices.
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