Reports Suggest Xbox Game Pass Price Hike Found in Xbox Cloud Gaming Source Code as Microsoft Sets $80 Game Prices
In a nutshell: Following recent increases in console costs and its $80 game pricing policy, Microsoft may raise the price of Xbox Game Pass. Game Pass now has over 35 million members and is growing steadily under Xbox’s leadership; this possible third price change represents a gradual inflation-driven strategy.
Microsoft recently announced that it would be raising the pricing of its games, consoles, and accessories. The first of the new Xbox titles, which will retail for $80, was revealed to be Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds 2, a more modest game than AAA RPG giants like Skyrim. Sony’s PS5 Pro, which costs $699, is less expensive than the Xbox Series X 2TB system, which costs $729. Microsoft’s announcement was lacking one item: an increase in the cost of Xbox Game Pass.
Based on Microsoft’s new inflation-adjusted cost models, it appears that we may have evidence that Xbox Game Pass is getting another price increase. Twitter user redphx apparently discovered a new string in the source code of the Xbox Cloud Gaming website that implied to an increase in the subscription pricing.
Xbox Game Pass will see its third price hike if Microsoft decides to raise it. Microsoft has adjusted Game Pass prices more gradually and methodically.
In July 2023, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate increased by just $2 and 13%, from $15 to $17. After a year, Microsoft increased Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s pricing from $15 to $20, a more significant $5 or +33% increase.
Subscription services often raise prices gradually and in phases, but Game Pass hasn’t seen many price increases over the years—in fact, it’s only increased by $5 in the last five years—unlike other media services. Microsoft is responsible for the games division’s growth at the top and bottom, as Xbox gaming CEO Phil Spencer recently reaffirmed.
As the CEO of Xbox gaming, Phil Spencer said : “Our jobs inside the company is to run a good business. We’re accountable to Microsoft for running a good business, a healthy business that continues to grow at both top line and bottom line. That’s kind of a foundation for us,”
An internal data wiz may have revealed that Xbox Game Pass has more than 35 million members, while Microsoft has not yet updated the official membership count.
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