GTA 6: Microsoft Raises Xbox Price to $150, and Consoles Could Be in Short Supply

Microsoft is raising the price of the Xbox by up to $150 starting August 1—the third price hike in 15 months—just as GTA 6 is driving up demand for consoles.

GTA 6 is coming out on November 19, but buying the console to play it on is becoming an uphill battle. Microsoft has just confirmed another price increase for the Xbox Series X|S, effective August 1, 2026—the third in just 15 months. And that’s not the only bad news. Warnings are starting to surface that consoles could be in short supply this winter, just as the game is set to drive up demand.

How Much Is the Price of the Xbox Series X|S Going Up?

The most significant increase is for the Xbox Series X with a hard drive, which goes from $649.99 to $799.99. Microsoft has also removed the Xbox Series X 2 TB Galaxy Black Edition from its catalog; it’s being discontinued entirely.

Why Microsoft Says It Has No Other Choice

Microsoft already raised prices in May 2025 and again in October 2025 (by between $20 and $70 in the United States). In its official statement on Xbox Wire, the company admits that “we had hoped it wouldn’t be necessary” to adjust the price again so soon.

According to Microsoft, the reason lies in memory. RAM and storage components have become more than 2.5 times more expensive, and the company anticipates that costs could double again by the fall of 2027.

“Prices for console storage and memory have increased more than 2.5 times, and we expect them to double again by fall 2027”

Behind the price hike is the demand for memory for artificial intelligence. Data centers training AI models are absorbing a large portion of global memory chip production, leaving less supply—and driving up prices—for consoles and computers.

The Warning That Raises Concerns About GTA 6

Here’s the part that should really worry anyone who doesn’t yet own a new console. Several specialized media outlets are reporting a warning from an unidentified retail source, who suggests that this year, demand “will outstrip supply” during the peak holiday season—just as the release of Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19 is set to skyrocket PS5 and Xbox sales. Note: Neither Sony nor Microsoft has officially confirmed this, so for now it’s an industry indicator, not an official warning.

Matthew Ball, Xbox’s chief strategy officer since May, already warned in June that “demand for Xbox consoles exceeds supply” and that producing them faster faces “a severe limitation.” He didn’t mention shortages during the holiday season, but it’s the same bottleneck. Sony isn’t off the hook either. The PS5’s price went up on April 2, 2026, to $649.99 (the Pro went to $899.99)—its second price hike in less than a year, and the third for this generation in some regions.

What This Means If You Want to Play GTA 6 on Launch Day

If you were planning to wait until the last minute to buy a console, the longer you wait, the more expensive and less certain your purchase will be. The Xbox price hike is now official and applies worldwide, including Spain. Shortages are still a concern, not a done deal, but they follow a pattern we saw with the PS5 and Xbox Series X when they launched in 2020—skyrocketing demand, limited components, and months of resale at inflated prices.

The countdown to November 19 continues, and this time the race isn’t just about pre-ordering the game. In the news section, we’ll keep you updated on any new announcements regarding prices and availability as they come in. Anyone who wants to play it on a new console on launch day may have to make up their mind sooner than they thought—and if you haven’t pre-ordered the game yet, that’s the other half of the equation.

Do you already have a console for November 19, or are you going to wait and take a chance? Let us know in the comments.