A new report from The Verge reveals that Microsoft is raising the price of Xbox Series X/S development kits (dev kits). This isn’t surprising, as the price of the standard Xbox consoles has also increased twice this year. However, this price hike could indirectly affect gamers. Dev kits are special versions of the consoles that game developers use to create games. Earlier this year, it was hard for developers to get their hands on dev kits for the new Nintendo Switch 2, which prevented some from making games for it. A more expensive Xbox dev kit could lead to a similar situation, potentially limiting the number of games available for Xbox in the future.
Xbox dev kits are getting a price hike. Does this mean fewer third-party releases in the future?
The Verge reports that the cost of Xbox Series development kits is going up, from $1,500 to $2,000. These special versions of the Xbox are pricier than regular consoles because they include extra hardware, a lot more memory, and essential tools for developers to test and fix their games before release.
This news arrives as Xbox has frequently been overlooked when new games are released. It’s understandable that developers often prefer PlayStation and Nintendo consoles, which have larger audiences. While many big developers still release on Xbox, and Xbox Game Pass is a good option for smaller studios, this price increase won’t encourage them to do so.
Microsoft and Xbox are suggesting that recent price hikes are largely due to tariffs imposed by the US government. These tariffs have already affected things like pre-orders and accessories for the upcoming Switch 2. While the price increases were somewhat expected, they aren’t helping Xbox look good in the public eye.
Reddit users have reacted strongly to recent Microsoft news. One commenter bluntly stated that Microsoft seems determined to avoid any positive publicity, likely referring to the price hikes for Xbox consoles, Game Pass subscriptions, and the new handheld device, alongside the company’s recent layoffs. Another user expressed their disappointment with a GIF of the Titanic sinking.
Xbox has experienced some successes recently. By releasing games previously only available on Xbox on platforms like PlayStation and Switch, Xbox has become a major game publisher. Even though the ROG Xbox Ally X is expensive, it received good reviews. Now, we need to see how these changes impact Xbox and Microsoft’s future direction.
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2025-10-22 02:02