Xbox won't follow PlayStation and hike console prices... at least not yet

techradar.com:

In wake of Sony’s announcement of a price increase for the PlayStation 5, Microsoft has declared that the Xbox Series S and Series X will both remain at the current suggested retail price. 

PlayStation 5’s price will increase in the UK, Australia and other key territories, however the US has managed to avoid a price hike for now. While unfortunate for many people looking to get a PS5, Microsoft’s announcement is great news for Xbox fans.

In a statement to our sister site, Windows Central, Microsoft confirmed that the tech giant has no plans on increasing the price of its latest consoles. 

“We are constantly evaluating our business to offer our fans great gaming options. Our Xbox Series S suggested retail price remains at $299 (£250, AU$499) the Xbox Series X is $499 (£450, AU$749).”

This comes as a relief for gamers, as there was suspicion around a similar price jump from Microsoft after Sony’s announcement cited economic pressure and inflation as the big factors behind this decision. Only time will tell if Xbox’s prices continue to be immune from global economic stress.

By offering both a budget option with the Xbox Series S, and access to a vast library of games with its monthly subscription service, Game Pass, Microsoft is leading the race in affordability with this generation of consoles. Game Pass not only offers a wide selection of past titles, but also immediate access to first-party games on release. Different tiers also offer the library on PC as well as EA Play, so gamers don’t even need the latest console to play their favorite games.

PlayStation has its own answer to Game Pass with PlayStation Plus, and while the library is more extensive than the Xbox’s, it doesn’t include day one access to first-party titles.