As If the RAM Crisis Wasn't Enough, Microsoft Is Raising the Price on Windows 11

More than thing else, 2026 has been marked by fundamentally each portion of exertion getting much expensive. While a batch of the terms increases person centered astir hardware, Microsoft is present reportedly tightening the screws arsenic well.

According to a study from Taiwanese economics outlet Economic Daily News (via PCMag), Microsoft volition beryllium raising its licensing fees for Windows 11 by arsenic overmuch arsenic 10%. Now, this terms summation isn't for DIY strategy builders who are buying a cardinal for their ain PC, but alternatively for OEM strategy builders who merchantability you a completed system. The licence interest increases aren't going to beryllium the aforesaid crossed the committee either, arsenic Microsoft mostly scales the licensing interest according to the processor. So, for instance, a laptop with an Intel Core i7 processor volition beryllium Microsoft a larger stock than a laptop with a Core i3 chip.

The Windows 11 licence mostly isn't the biggest portion of a laptop's cost, and it does look similar these licence increases person already been accounted for successful the existent costs. However, according to EDN's report, Asus and Acer are volition beryllium expanding prices by astir 5% aboriginal this year.

In the expansive strategy of things, Microsoft's licence fees aren't going to determination the needle by astir arsenic overmuch arsenic exploding RAM and SSD prices. But, it's inactive conscionable different happening that's making buying a PC much costly than it utilized to be.

After all, this is coming successful the aforesaid twelvemonth erstwhile the Steam Machine had to motorboat astatine a overmuch higher terms than planned, owed to the ongoing RAM crisis. And adjacent Microsoft has had to rise the terms connected its Xbox Series X and S consoles to relationship for much costly hardware. It doesn't look similar things are going to easiness up anytime soon, either, with RAM manufacturers already selling done their 2027 manufacturing capacity. But, who knows, possibly this volition origin much hardware to determination implicit to SteamOS.

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor astatine IGN and the PC components queen. You tin travel her @Jackiecobra