All three big console makers have put their UK prices up in 2026. If your PlayStation, Xbox or Switch has developed a fault, replacing it now costs noticeably more than it did a year ago. Here is what changed and why.
The 2026 UK price rises
- PlayStation 5 (2 April 2026): Sony added £90 to all three models. The PS5 is now £569.99, the PS5 Digital Edition £519.99 and the PS5 Pro £789.99.
- Xbox Series X and S (1 August 2026): Microsoft raised every model by up to £170. The Series X with disc drive is now £669.99 and the Series S 512GB £429.99.
- Nintendo Switch 2 (1 September 2026): up £24, from £395.99 to £419.99.
Why consoles cost more
The main reason is memory. The companies that make the memory and storage chips inside consoles are selling more of their output to AI data centres, so there is less for everything else and prices have shot up. Microsoft said the cost of console memory and storage had risen by more than 2.5 times. Sony pointed to wider economic pressures and Nintendo to changes in market conditions.
That is unusual. Historically, console prices have tended to come down as a generation gets older, not go up.
What it means if your console breaks
- Repair is better value than ever. Common faults such as a broken HDMI port, overheating, a disc drive that won’t read, or controller and Joy-Con drift can usually be fixed for a fraction of a new console’s price.
- Don’t throw out an older console. A PS4, Xbox One or original Switch that has stopped working may well be repairable.
- Keep your controllers going too. We fix drift and sticking buttons on DualSense, Xbox and Joy-Con controllers, often for much less than a new controller.
We have been repairing consoles in Central London since 2003. Many common faults are fixed the same day, repairs come with a 90-day warranty on parts and labour, and you can post your console to us from anywhere in the UK.
Sources
- Nintendo Life, August 2026: Nintendo details Switch 2 price increase for the UK
- Hardvance: Xbox, PS5 and Switch 2 price increase: the UK numbers (summarising PlayStation Blog, 27 March 2026, and Xbox Wire, 25 June 2026)
- TrendForce, 30 September 2026: AI server demand sustains memory contract price increases in 4Q26
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