Xbox console prices might increase soon, according to a gaming industry insider. While Xbox prices have already gone up twice in 2025 due to tariffs, the next potential increase could be attributed to an ongoing shortage and price surge in DRAM memory kits that has affected the entire tech industry.
Throughout the latter half of 2025, the prices of DRAM memory chips has skyrocketed across the board, leaving consumers priced out of buying the RAM they want. This price increase and subsequent shortage is due to an ongoing demand for DRAM by OpenAI and other AI-based companies, which has led RAM manufacturers to allocate more of their supply to power AI servers and infrastructure. As a result, consumer prices on DDR5 desktop memory kits have jumped over 200% throughout the fall. Despite some ongoing Black Friday deals on PC components in general, there is no potential relief for consumers in sight when it comes to DDR4 or DDR5 RAM kits.
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Xbox Console Prices Could Spike Due To Ongoing RAM Shortage
Though rumors should be taken with a fine grain of salt, a gaming industry insider states that Xbox is already feeling the pinch of the ongoing RAM price hikes. Moore’s Law Is Dead stated in a November 20 YouTube video that Microsoft “didn’t plan ahead at all” when it came to the RAM shortages, and that Xbox console prices could spike again soon. Moore’s Law Is Dead did not state when or by how much the Xbox Series X/S prices will change. Throughout 2025, the Xbox Series X/S console lineup went up twice due to tariffs on various goods that were imposed by the US government. Currently, the Xbox Series S console can be bought as low as $379.99, while an Xbox Series X will set customers back $599.99. The price hikes on Xbox consoles and Xbox Game Pass have drawn criticism across the gaming industry.
However, Moore’s Law Is Dead added that the Xbox’s main competitor, the PS5, may not face an imminent price hike yet, as Sony seemingly has enough DRAM to meet consumer demands during the holiday shopping season. Given that PS5 consoles are discounted for Black Friday by as much as $100 for a standard PS5 system, it remains to be seen if or when Sony will increase its prices.
Although Xbox is offering Black Friday deals on games like Fallout 76 and The Outer Worlds 2, there are unfortunately no such offers on Xbox Series X/S consoles. Only time will tell what Microsoft’s plans are for its remaining Xbox console stock.
- Brand
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Microsoft
- Original Release Date
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November 10, 2020
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$499
- Operating System
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Proprietary (Windows-based)
- Processor
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Custom AMD 8-core Zen 2 3.8 GHz
- Resolution
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720p – 4K UHD
