Trump Tariffs Used as Excuse for Xbox US Price Rise, Says Former Xbox Exec

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In what is the most bizarre generation of console gaming pricing we've ever experienced, prices continue to rise rather than reduce. Consoles have a long tradition of bringing in new players later in the generation with deflating price points. However, this generation Sony and Microsoft continue to increase the price of admission for their already pricey consoles. Even Nintendo have been at it too, remarkably increasing the price of the Nintendo Switch following the release of the Nintendo Switch 2.

Former Blizzard - now a Microsoft company - President, Mike Ybarra has criticised his former paymaster's decision to rise the price of Xbox consoles in the US last week, claiming that the issue is much bigger than tariff hikes.

Ybarra who also held the Microsoft position of Corporate Vice President Microsoft (Xbox, Windows) until 2019, before the Blizzard takeover, took to X (Twitter) to say “console price increases are not tariff issues, they are profit issues”..

Ybarra went on to further add that “the reason why profits are not where they should be is a far, far deeper issue vs. the tariff excuse.”

When quizzed by someone in the replies to the tweet, the now CEO of PrizePicks from a totally different sector, added that they (Microsoft) "are going to make consumers continue to pay for those problems."

Console price increases are not tariff issues, they are profit issues. And the reason why profits are not where they should be is a far, far deeper issue vs. the tariff excuse.
— Mike Ybarra ? (@Qwik) September 19, 2025

Ybarra’s comments on X (Twitter)

The price move has been met with swathes of criticism online, particularly from bemused gamers who already question Xbox's ability to grow their instal base - which is understood to be well below its two main competitors.

Whilst, for now, these price hikes have only impact the US market, last week's price increases followed global rises in May this year for hardware and accessories.

The handheld ROG Xbox Ally consoles are due to release next month and are still without pre-orders and more concerning, a price. Last weeks price rise for main hardware has left gamers online fearful of what may be to come.

What's your thoughts on Ybarra's comments? What price do you think we should expect for the ROG Xbox Ally consoles? Let us know in the comments below and stick with GSC for all your Xbox news.