Console Prices Gets Costlier Ahead of GTA 6 Launch

Xbox console price hikes and Sony's latest comments on hardware pricing signal a more expensive transition to current-generation gaming just as major franchises leave last-gen behind.

The transition to current-generation gaming is accelerating in 2026, but for many gamers, the switch comes with a regrettable side effect: rising console prices. With blockbuster titles like Grand Theft Auto 6 and the next Call of Duty series to leave older technology in the dust, both Microsoft and Sony are signaling that upgrading to a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S could become much more expensive.

The industry-wide trend is being helped along by the biggest gaming releases of the year. Grand Theft Auto 6 is arriving only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is also losing support for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The move isn’t limited to the premium release either, as Warzone will become a current-generation exclusive following its Season 1 integration upgrade.

This is a big turning point for those who have continued to use last-generation hardware.

Publishers kept releasing games across both console generations for several years, and many gamers put off upgrading. But as that support ends, millions of players might have little choice but to buy newer gear if they want to keep enjoying the industry's biggest titles.

Unfortunately for customers, that obligatory upgrade is coming at the same time as increased hardware costs across the gaming sector. Recent reports over the last week show that both Microsoft and Sony are planning for a future in which consoles will cost more to make and eventually more to buy.

Microsoft said this week that the Xbox Series X and S lineup will see a price rise in August, weeks before the launch of Modern Warfare 4 and ahead of Grand Theft Auto 6. If you’re looking to upgrade from Xbox One to current-generation hardware, you’ll see a noticeable price rise if you wait until the change goes into effect.

Reported changes include a significant price rise for the Xbox Series S 512GB model, with other Series S models, the Xbox Series X, and the digital version of the Series X also getting a significant bump. Microsoft's current lineup of consoles is getting more pricey, across the board.

The timing has been criticized, as it comes on the heels of recent comments by Xbox executives who noted that gaming is becoming increasingly expensive.

Many gamers already own current-gen consoles, but a large chunk of the gaming community has stayed on earlier hardware since cross-gen support removed the incentive to upgrade. Now the situation has altered a lot. With big-name games like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto skipping PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the pressure to upgrade has never been greater.

Consoles are getting more expensive at the same time demand is predicted to soar, rather than get cheaper as the generation grows. Microsoft is hardly the only one suffering rising production costs. Sony executives recently said the company does not plan to incur significant losses on PlayStation hardware, which many industry watchers see as a hint that PlayStation console prices could continue to rise if manufacturing costs remain high.

Sony said the cost of making PlayStation systems, including the PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro, is rising due to higher component costs, including RAM and other hardware. The corporation is determined to keep its profit margins robust rather than incur the costs. Sony said it continues to monitor market conditions while ensuring customers realize the value of its gear. The message is all business-speak, but the takeaway is clear: if production costs keep rising, consumers may eventually face higher prices.

The statements come at a particularly delicate time, with demand for current-generation consoles projected to spike substantially in the months leading up to Grand Theft Auto 6.

Retailers reportedly expect much higher console sales as customers upgrade expressly to enjoy Rockstar's highly anticipated release. More than hardware price, Sony provided a look at its long-term ambitions for the PlayStation platform. The next generation of PlayStation is designed to deliver experiences that go beyond being just an alternative to PC gaming, according to company management.

The business also highlighted its work to expand how players engage with PlayStation devices, particularly by developing fluid gaming experiences that go beyond the traditional living room setup. Details are still thin on the ground, but the comments are just another sign that work is afoot behind the scenes on PlayStation 6.

While Sony has not officially announced a launch schedule, industry speculation continues to suggest a next-gen PlayStation might arrive as early as 2027. But for now, the attention remains firmly on the current generation and the increasing expense of joining it.

Publishers like Rockstar Games, Activision, and EA are going full force into current-generation development, which means the era of earlier systems is quickly fading. The window to upgrade is closing for anyone still rocking a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, and it could soon become significantly more expensive.

With consoles already seeing price rises and manufacturers hinting at much higher increases, buyers looking to upgrade might want to get in early. With the largest game releases on the horizon, the switch to current-gen hardware seems unavoidable, but it’s also turning out to be one of the most costly console upgrades in recent memory.