Microsoft has been actively seeking to increase profits from its Xbox business. Recently, they’ve raised prices on both the Xbox Series X/S consoles and Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions. Now, a new report from The Verge shows they’re also increasing the cost of development kits for current-generation Xbox consoles by 33%, from $1,500 to $2,000.
Microsoft has increased its prices due to recent economic conditions, according to a message sent to developers and reported by The Verge. The company hasn’t publicly announced the change beyond this communication to developers.
The company explained that recent changes are due to the current economic climate. They reaffirmed their dedication to offering excellent tools and support for game developers. Although the price increases are likely linked to tariffs in the US, the report indicates that developers worldwide, including those in Europe, will also be affected.
Development kits for game consoles have always cost significantly more than the consoles themselves. This is because these kits include extra hardware and software tools to help game developers. For instance, the Xbox Series X/S development kit has 40 GB of RAM, while the standard Xbox Series X only has 16 GB.
Development kits, the hardware developers use, are usually more powerful than the consoles games will eventually run on. This is because developers need to test with unfinished code and assets. The latest Xbox development kit includes extra processing power and tools to help them identify and fix problems in their games.
Independent game developers can often rent development kits from Microsoft instead of purchasing them, which is much more affordable. This allows smaller teams to create and release games for Xbox. Larger studios, with more funding, usually buy these kits because they need several systems to thoroughly test their games during development.
Xbox prices increased earlier this month in the US. The Xbox Series S, previously the most affordable next-generation console, now costs $399.99, a $20 increase. The high-end Xbox Series X 2 TB Galaxy Black Edition saw a similar price jump, going from $729.99 to $799.99. Microsoft also recently released two handheld gaming devices in partnership with Asus: the ROG Xbox Ally, priced at $599.99, and the more powerful Xbox Ally X, which costs $999.99.
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2025-10-22 17:43