New report claims Xbox has increased costs of its development kits to $2000, a 33% price hike

Microsoft has reportedly hiked up the cost of its Xbox Series X/S dev kits (XDK) from $1500 to $2000.

Sources have allegedly told The Verge that the gaming giant claims the 33% price increase “reflects macroeconomic developments” and will apply to all developers looking to acquire a dev kit across the world, not just those in the United States.

“We remain committed to providing high-quality tools and support for your development efforts,” Xbox reportedly told Xbox developers.

GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Xbox for comment.

The report comes on the heels of not one but two recent price rises in the U.S., and news Microsoft has raised the price of its subscription service Xbox Game Pass, with its most expensive tier, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, increasing from $19.99/£14.99 to $29.99/£22.99 per month.

Microsoft said the increase comes as it expands its offering, with Fortnite Crew (valued at $11.99/month) and Ubisoft+ Classics (valued at $7.99/month) added to its Ultimate library, as well as enhanced Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming quality and access to over 75 day one releases a year, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.