Players Furious Over Xbox Game Pass Price Hike: What You Need to Know

Fans are buzzing with anger after Microsoft announced price hikes for its Xbox Game Pass subscription service. The cost of the most popular plan jumped from £14.99 to £22.99 per month—an increase of more than 50%. Many users have shared their frustration on social media, with reports that the cancellation page for the service crashed due to the high volume of traffic.

In a recent blog post, Microsoft outlined the new pricing structure, introducing three tiers: Essential (£10), Premium (£14.99), and Ultimate (£22.99). While the basic plan allows online multiplayer, the Ultimate package offers access to new games from Microsoft’s own studios as soon as they release. This includes big titles like Call of Duty, which can cost around £70 if bought individually.

Despite the additions like Hogwarts Legacy to the Game Pass library, not all players are convinced. Ed Nightingale from Eurogamer points out that gaming subscription services have grown in popularity, yet the rising costs pose a challenge for many consumers. As game development expenses climb, he questions whether the subscription model can remain affordable.

The price hikes are part of a wider trend; Microsoft also raised the prices of Xbox consoles and accessories earlier this year, citing market conditions and development costs. Sony and Nintendo have made similar moves, with growing concerns about affordability ringing across the gaming community.

In 2022, the UK’s Entertainment Retail Association reported an uptick in users of Game Pass and similar services, highlighting the demand for accessible gaming options. Despite this, critiques about pricing strategies may lead players to conclude that such deals are “too good to be true.”

With rising prices—coupled with Microsoft’s recent layoffs amid shifts to artificial intelligence investment—the gaming landscape is changing quickly, and experts warn that developers risk alienating their base. Balancing cost and value will be crucial as players continue to evaluate whether their subscriptions still hold merit.

For more information about the Xbox Game Pass changes, visit Xbox News.

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