After Xbox console and Game Pass price hikes, Microsoft is now reportedly raising the cost of Xbox Development Kits, too

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XDKs may shoot up in price by 33%

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  • Microsoft is reportedly raising prices for its Xbox Development Kits
  • The dev kits will shoot up from $1,500 to $2,000, according to the report
  • This follows a swathe of controversial price hikes for its consoles and Game Pass subscription tiers

Seemingly not content with just raising the prices of Xbox Series X and Series S consoles and Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, Microsoft is now reportedly turning its attention to Xbox Development Kits (XDK).

A report from The Verge reveals that the dev kits - custom Xbox units made specifically for game development - will jump in price from $1,500 to $2,000. That's according to sources close to The Verge, and an announcement to developers from Xbox shared with the outlet.

The alleged announcement states that the $500 price jump "reflects macroeconomic developments," something we've heard before from the most recent Xbox console price increases earlier in October. "We remain committed to providing high-quality tools and support for your development efforts," Xbox added in the announcement.

While Xbox's latest console price increases are reserved for US consumers for now, it's reported that this will not be the case for Xbox Development Kits, with the 33% hike applying to developers worldwide.

Pricing woes don't end there, as Microsoft has also recently come under scrutiny for its expensive Asus ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X rates. Here, Xbox president Sarah Bond said it was Asus' decision to "determine the ultimate prices of the devices."

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Rhys Wood
Rhys Wood
Hardware Editor

Rhys is TRG's Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for over four years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.

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