Xbox Game Pass Price Hike Sparks Widespread Player Outrage, Leads to Mass Cancellations
Xbox Game Pass Price Hike Sparks Widespread Player Outrage, Leads to Mass Cancellations
Microsoft has ignited a firestorm among its gaming community following a significant price increase for its popular Xbox Game Pass subscription service. The company announced that its most popular tier would see a substantial jump of over 50%, rising from £14.99 to £22.99 per month. This move has triggered an immediate and furious backlash from players, with many taking to social media to express their anger and report mass cancellations. Some users even reported that the Game Pass cancellation page experienced outages due to the surge in demand.
Under the revised structure, Xbox Game Pass will now feature three distinct tiers: Essential at £10 per month, Premium at £14.99, and Ultimate at £22.99. The Essential package is now a prerequisite for online multiplayer access, while the more expensive Premium and Ultimate options offer a broader selection of games and additional perks. Notably, the Ultimate tier provides day-one access to new titles from Microsoft-owned studios, including major franchises like Call of Duty, which can retail for around £70 individually. Microsoft defended the changes in a blog post, stating the new system aims to “offer more flexibility, choice, and value to all players,” and highlighted recent additions like Hogwarts Legacy and various Assassin’s Creed entries to the library.
However, many players and industry experts disagree. Ed Nightingale, deputy news editor at Eurogamer, noted the increasing popularity of gaming subscription services but questioned the sustainability of such price hikes. “Games nowadays are just more expensive,” Nightingale commented, suggesting that while subscriptions were once seen as a cheaper alternative to individual game purchases, the current increase feels “anti-consumer” and risks pricing players out of the hobby. Microsoft, meanwhile, maintains that Game Pass remains profitable, reporting its best-ever revenue from subscriptions last year.
This latest price adjustment follows earlier increases this year for Xbox consoles, accessories, and games, which Microsoft attributed to “market conditions” and escalating game development costs. Competitors like Sony and Nintendo have also implemented similar price hikes for their hardware and accessories. The company’s broader financial strategy this year has also included significant layoffs and substantial investments in artificial intelligence, raising questions about the future direction of its gaming division amidst rising consumer costs.
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