Microsoft has announced that the price of the Xbox Series X/S will be increased by 5,000 yen in Japan. The news follows recent reports that the Xbox Series S would be receiving a price hike in India.
The Xbox Series X/S has been a big success since its worldwide release in 2020. Microsoft has been able to overcome the availability issues of its console, a problem that Sony is finally coming out of with the PlayStation 5 years after its release. Having the console easily accessible to gamers has been essential to ensuring it remains toe to toe with its rivals. While Microsoft openly admits that Sony has more exclusives on the PlayStation 5, Microsoft has Xbox Game Pass which continues to bring a huge gaming library to players for an affordable monthly fee. The close rivalry can only be a good thing for players in the long run, with strong competition breeding much better end products.
The latest price increase of 5,000 yen brings the price of the Xbox Series X to 59,978 yen and the Xbox Series S to 37,978 yen up from 54,978 yen and 32,278 yen respectively. In its statement confirming the increase, Microsoft cited the impact of local pricing, as it look to maintain "reasonable consistency across regions." The change will become effective from February 17, giving consumers a final chance to purchase the console at its original price.
Microsoft will have to wait to see how the decision affects sales of the consoles in Japan. While Xbox has historically struggled in the region, especially compared to PlayStation, it's reported that the new generation of Xbox consoles has already outsold the Xbox One's lifetime sales in Japan. Having finally found success in a tough market to crack, there's no doubt that Microsoft did not take this decision lightly.
There is plenty going on over at Microsoft at the moment. After the recent news that 10,000 jobs would be cut at Microsoft, it's possible that the Xbox Series X/S price hike is a necessary business move for the company. Its ongoing acquisition of Activision rumbles on, with regulatory authorities still debating about whether the purchase would give Microsoft too much power in the gaming industry. It would undoubtedly be a huge move for Microsoft, who have struggled in recent years for exclusives compared to its PlayStation rivals. For now, fans will have to remain patient for further news on the acquisition, which was first announced in January 2022.
Source: Gematsu