Yes, That New Price For XBox Game Pass Is Real

[PopGeeks]

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As someone who’s always gamed on the Playstation / Nintendo side of the fence, I’ve watched with some schadenfreude as XBox continues to self-sabotage itself. First they eliminated any specific reason to buy the console by putting all their exclusives on rival machines. Then they played up the fact you didn’t need to buy their consoles in all their marketing (“THIS IS AN XBOX”). Then to hammer it home, they jacked up the prices of their consoles incredibly high to seemingly discourage anybody from even thinking of buying one. The only appealing thing they had left to offer was Game Pass, and as of today they’ve broken that too. Last month Game Pass Ultimate was $19.99. Now it’s $29.99 — an unheard-of leap of ten bucks. Microsoft justifies this by pointing out they now include Fortnite Crew, Hogwarts Legacy and other in-demand stuff, but it hasn’t cushioned the blow for many. The website page to cancel a Game Pass subscription has actually been crashing today from all the traffic. It’s hard for me to think of another service that dares to ask this much of its consumer base. Only the Adobe Creative Suite fleeces its customers more. XBox Core will […]
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Yes, That New Price For XBox Game Pass Is Real

Last month XBox Game Pass Ultimate was $19.99. Now it's $29.99 -- an unheard-of leap of ten bucks. Microsoft justifies this by pointing out

popgeeks.com

 

[0preretgf90]

Honestly, I never saw myself paying $30 a month for Game Pass. I thought $20 was already stretching it for my budget. I like trying new games, but at this new rate, it almost feels like they expect me to commit to every single release to make it worth it. I also feel bad for the people who rely on it to play online. Calling the cheaper plan “Essential” seems like a push to force everyone into Premium or pay more elsewhere. I might just go back to buying games individually.

 

[ViperStrike31]

I play mostly on PC, and the $16.49 increase doesn’t seem huge at first, but it adds up quickly. Game Pass used to feel like a deal for me, especially since I could try games I never considered buying. Now, with the price going up like this, I will be more selective. The problem is, Game Pass encouraged a habit of playing whatever is available, and now that habit may cost too much. I think Microsoft is risking a lot by making this change so abruptly.

 

[Uma Thurman Musume]

I do not use Game Pass, but I watch its news. To me, this confirms what people in the gaming community were saying: Game Pass cannot last forever at low prices. I do not blame Microsoft for wanting to charge more, but $29.99 is high compared to other subscription services. I think it might push casual gamers to reconsider if they need it at all. Some may stop subscribing and just buy the games they want directly.

 

[Evans]

From my perspective, PC is better because I do not like being locked into services. Subscriptions are convenient, but prices can change anytime. On PC, I pay once for a game and it is mine. Seeing this Xbox increase just reinforces why I always invest in PC games over console subscriptions.

 

[Negan Fox]

I understand that they are trying to offer more content like Hogwarts Legacy, but ten dollars extra per month is not a small increase. For me, it makes me seriously consider cancelling. I already have enough games to play, and paying almost thirty dollars monthly for access to a library I may not fully use seems wasteful. Subscriptions can be convenient, but when the cost jumps like this, convenience loses its value. It makes me feel like Microsoft is more focused on short-term profit than on keeping a long-term player base happy. I also notice that PC users get a smaller increase, which is a bit fairer, but it does not change my overall opinion. I might stick to buying games individually, choosing carefully, and avoiding this sudden burden on my budget.

 

[MemoriesOfMidnight8]

I do not understand how Microsoft expects gamers to accept this. Game Pass was their main appeal, and now it seems like a poor value. Ten dollars a month is substantial, especially for students or young adults who rely on budget subscriptions. I know some people will argue that extra content like Fortnite Crew is worth it, but for me, most of the games offered are already ones I either do not play or could buy at a lower cost individually. This move may push more people toward Playstation or Nintendo, where they feel they get fairer value for their money. I am also worried that developers will continue to complain about Game Pass’s sustainability, and if Microsoft cannot support it long-term, we may see even more instability in the service.

 

[Myrtle]

I think the way Microsoft handled this update was poorly timed. There was no gradual increase or clear explanation for why the jump is so high.

 

[Crazy Carrie]

Is this what happened because of Trump’s tariffs? Video game subscriptions are suddenly way more expensive, and now I have to pay ten extra dollars a month just to play the games I already enjoy? This is ridiculous. I get that companies adjust prices, but a jump like this feels like it’s being forced on us by external policies, not by anything Microsoft actually needed. How are ordinary gamers supposed to keep up when every service is suddenly inflating costs? It makes me angry that we are paying the price for decisions completely out of our control.