Gaming is very expensive right now. You have game prices going up to $70, and there’s even the rumor that GTA 6 might come out for $80 to $100. While that hasn’t happened yet, what has happened is that all video game consoles, and even one that hasn’t been out yet, have increased their prices, making gaming a bit expensive nowadays.
Before and Current Prices for Consoles
We’ll show a list of these video game consoles before and after they raised their prices in the past few months. These are listed in US Dollars, so the price may still vary in your country. It could be far more expensive at your end, so be sure to check it out.
| Console | Previous Price | Current Price |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | $449.99 | $499.99 |
| PlayStation 5 Digital | $499.99 | $599.99 |
| PlayStation 5 Disc | $549.99 | $649.99 |
| Xbox Series S (512GB) | $349.99 | $399.99 |
| Xbox Series X (1TB) | $499.99 | $599.99 |
| Steam Deck OLED (512GB) | $549.99 | $789.99 |
| Steam Deck OLED (1TB) | $649.99 | $949.99 |
The Steam Price Hike
On the table above, you saw the significant increase in the Steam Deck handheld systems. The 512GB model had an over $200 increase. The 1TB model had $300 in terms of its increase. That is insane, and people are upset. It seems Steam can’t win all the time, but that is too much of a price increase.
There is another Steam console, the STEAM MACHINE, that is yet to be released. The official price hasn’t been shown yet, but people believe it will be around the $600 mark. That was before the Steam Deck price increases. Now, it is believed to be around $1,000 or more. That is expensive but not as expensive as custom PCs. Regardless, if that happens, then it will still be too heavy to bear.
Why are These Consoles Expensive Now?
Listed below are several reasons why these consoles have gone up in price.
Price increase and scarcity of parts
A lot of the parts used to make these consoles have gone high. This means that newer consoles being made will feel the hit and must go up in price. You have the hardware component from the GPU and others. The scarcity part is that a lot of other companies are buying these things in bulk. This is why there isn’t much left for the console manufacturers.
Tariff price increase
The recent tariff price increase has also played a part in these console prices. When the manufacturers have to pay extra to get their items on land, that burden will be passed on to the consumers. It seems that tariff prices won’t be going down anytime soon.
Global inflation and political conflicts
We can’t deny that the recent conflict in the Middle East set the world on a big inflation hike. Prices of oil rose, so pretty much everything rose, from basic necessities to the parts used to make consoles.
Should You Buy Consoles Right Now?
If you can afford it, then by all means do so. However, if you’re looking for a more affordable route, you can buy some used ones. If you look deep enough, there are some older units that were made before the price increase. Maybe you can buy one of those in mint condition and for cheap.
