Former Blizzard President Slams Xbox Price Hike, Says It’s About Profit Not Taxes
Mike Ybarra criticizes Microsoft’s repeated console price increases in 2025
Microsoft has announced another price hike for the Xbox Series X and Series S in the United States, marking the second increase in 2025. The new pricing will take effect on October 3, with the Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition jumping from $599.99 to $800, a massive $200 increase since January. The standard Series X will also rise by $50 to $649.99.
This comes just months after the May 2025 price adjustment, where models rose by $20–$70. Microsoft has clarified that accessory prices remain unchanged, and regions outside the US will not be affected. Executives stated that the decision was made after “careful consideration” to provide players more ways to access games, yet consumers have started questioning the value of consoles in an era where Xbox Game Pass runs equally well on PC.
Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra voiced strong criticism on his X account, saying the increase was purely profit-driven. “Console price hikes are not about import taxes. They’re about profit. If profit is missing, the issues run deeper than tariffs,” he remarked. When a user suggested Microsoft was passing its own market mistakes onto consumers, Ybarra agreed: “Yes. A single tax increase justifies one price hike. Repeated hikes with no new tax means another problem. Consumers are paying for those mistakes.”
In comparison, Sony raised the price of the PlayStation 5 by $50 in the US in August 2025, setting the standard edition at $549.99, while also spreading adjustments across Europe. Nintendo raised prices for older Switch models by $30–$50 in the same month, while the Switch 2 stayed at $449.99. Microsoft’s steep increases stand out as the harshest among console makers, highlighting economic and trade pressures hitting the gaming industry.
For some gamers who bought the Xbox Series X back in 2020, the console has become a secondary option, only powered on when PCs are unavailable. With Game Pass offering superior performance on PC with high-end displays, the Series X struggles to justify its higher cost in today’s market.
