Former Blizzard Chief Slams Xbox Console Price Rise as Cash Grab, Not Tariffs

[Devinluke]

I saw news that a former Blizzard chief criticized Xbox for raising console prices, calling it a cash grab rather than tariff-related. Could you explain what this means and suggest why the price hike is being debated?

 

[louisegrant]

He did not like the Xbox price increase, arguing that it is a cash grab and has nothing to do with tariffs or third-party costs.

 

[rosewattson]

The Xbox price hike was dubbed by the former chief as a cash grab since it was a second price hike thus it was not a one time tariff price but rather a profit or internal problem hike.

 

[Lucas]

Ex-Blizzard chief Mike Ybarra says Xbox’s price hikes are profit grabs, not tariff issues.

 

[Maria]

The former Blizzard chief criticized Xbox’s console price increase, calling it a cash grab rather than a response to tariffs, sparking debate over gaming industry pricing strategies.

 

[Ammy]

Former Blizzard chief criticized Xbox’s console price hike, calling it a cash grab rather than a result of tariffs.

 

[Lucas]

Former Blizzard chief Mike Ybarra criticized Xbox price hikes as a “cash grab,” saying tariffs aren’t the reason.

 

[TrasvisHead]

Mike Ybarra, former president of Blizzard Entertainment, has criticized Xbox console price hikes by Microsoft, calling them a cash grab rather than driven by tariffs. He argues the company is using tariffs as an excuse for repeated price increases, when the root issue is deeper profitability problems.

 

[Hazel]

Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra criticized Microsoft over recent Xbox price increases, calling them a cash grab rather than tariff-driven necessity, sparking gamer backlash.