“The ‘Best Deal in Gaming’ has turned into the ‘Most Expensive Deal in Gaming’.”
Microsoft has substantially raised the price of Xbox development kits, increasing the cost from $1,500 to $2,000 — a 33% hike. The change affects developers around the globe and, the company says, stems from “macroeconomic factors.”
Development kits are typically pricier than retail consoles because they include extra hardware and higher performance to test unfinished or unoptimized builds, along with specialized developer software. While the original $1,500 entry point was already steep, the new $2,000 price elevates the barrier to entry even further.
Observers have quipped that with subscription fees, consumer consoles, and now developer kits all becoming more expensive, Xbox’s slogan “The Best Deal in Gaming” might better be rebranded as “The Most Expensive Deal in Gaming.”
Source: iXBT.games