As If the RAM Crisis Wasn't Enough, Microsoft Is Raising the Price on Windows 11
More than anything else, 2026 has been marked by basically every piece of technology getting more expensive. While a lot of the price increases have centered around hardware, Microsoft is now reportedly tightening the screws as well.
According to a report from Taiwanese economics outlet Economic Daily News (via PCMag), Microsoft will be raising its licensing fees for Windows 11 by as much as 10%. Now, this price increase isn't for DIY system builders who are buying a key for their own PC, but rather for OEM system builders who sell you a completed system. The license fee increases aren't going to be the same across the board either, as Microsoft generally scales the licensing fee according to the processor. So, for instance, a laptop with an Intel Core i7 processor will owe Microsoft a larger share than a laptop with a Core i3 chip.
The Windows 11 license generally isn't the biggest part of a laptop's cost, and it does seem like these license increases have already been accounted for in the current costs. However, according to EDN's report, Asus and Acer are will be increasing prices by about 5% later this year.
In the grand scheme of things, Microsoft's license fees aren't going to move the needle by nearly as much as exploding RAM and SSD prices. But, it's still just another thing that's making buying a PC more expensive than it used to be.
After all, this is coming in the same year when the Steam Machine had to launch at a much higher price than planned, due to the ongoing RAM crisis. And even Microsoft has had to raise the price on its Xbox Series X and S consoles to account for more expensive hardware. It doesn't seem like things are going to ease up anytime soon, either, with RAM manufacturers already selling through their 2027 manufacturing capacity. But, who knows, maybe this will cause more hardware to move over to SteamOS.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra