Microsoft recently increased the price of Xbox Game Pass, and many players have reacted negatively. Some have even said they plan to cancel their subscriptions because of the change.
As many expected, Microsoft has raised prices again, and this time, the increase affects developers directly.
Microsoft recently announced to The Verge that they will be raising the price of the Xbox development kit by 33%.
Okay, so the kit I was hoping to buy just got a price hike! It used to be $1,500, but now it’s going to cost $2,000. They’re saying it’s because of what’s going on with the economy, which is frustrating, but not much I can do about that, I guess.
This isn’t limited to developers in the US; it impacts people in Europe and around the globe.
The Price Hike Will Be a Major Hurdle for Smaller Developers
Even before the recent price increase, the XDK was already costly because it included extra hardware.
It’s fitted with 40Gb of GDRR6 memory, for example, which contributed to its overall price.
The price increase won’t significantly impact large game studios, but smaller developers will definitely feel it. Ultimately, making games for the console will become more expensive.
Honestly, because Xbox doesn’t sell as well as PlayStation, I worry smaller game studios might stop making games for it. It’s a tough spot – they need to focus on where the most players are, and right now, that’s usually not Xbox.
Microsoft claims rising prices are a result of broader economic conditions. However, many believe the increase is actually caused by tariffs imposed on Chinese goods during President Trump’s administration.
This probably impacted the cost of the XDK, as well as Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions and Xbox consoles themselves.
This has led many to believe Microsoft is focused on maximizing profits in every way it can.
Microsoft will announce its latest financial results on October 29th, revealing its performance over the last three months.
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2025-10-22 00:06