Xbox will not raise the price of its AAA games in 2026

Xbox prioritizes value for the player and dismisses short-term price changes.

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In the midst of the debate over the cost of high-budget video games, Xbox has sought to calm the waters. The head of Xbox Game Studios, Matt Booty, has explained that the company remains focused on offering player satisfaction and value, without losing sight of the need to maintain a sustainable business.

His statements come at a delicate time, with recent price hikes on consoles and Xbox Game Pass in early October, and with part of the community fearing that first-party games will make the definitive leap to $80. For now, that scenario does not appear to be on the table.

Xbox bets on flexibility and maintains the maximum price of its games

According to Booty, the current strategy involves “finding players where they are”, understanding that today, the way to access and pay for games is more varied than ever. The executive notes that the focus is no longer solely on the base price of a release, but on the different access models that exist: traditional purchases, subscriptions, additional content, and other monetization systems.

• In that context, Xbox will continue to listen to the community and adjust its approach with care. Booty acknowledges that player expectations must be balanced with the health of the business, but makes it clear that there are no planned changes to the price of AAA games from the content perspective. In other words, $69.99 will remain the ceiling for first-party titles at least until the beginning of 2026.

This does not mean that the debate is closed forever. The executive himself leaves the door open to possible adjustments in the future if the market pushes in that direction. However, the current message is clear: Xbox is in no hurry to follow the trend of $80 games and prefers to rely on a broader ecosystem, where perceived value weighs as much as the final price.