Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price surges 50%, sparking mass cancellations and online fury

Xbox's Price Hike Sparks Game Pass Exodus

Microsoft has ignited a firestorm of player discontent with a significant price increase for its Game Pass Ultimate subscription, a move that has sent shockwaves through the gaming community and triggered a wave of cancellations. The abrupt announcement, which saw the cost of Game Pass Ultimate surge by a staggering 50%—from $20 to $30 per month—has been met with widespread outrage, even leading to temporary outages on the Xbox Game Pass website due to the sheer volume of users attempting to unsubscribe.

A Betrayal of Trust?

This latest price adjustment follows closely on the heels of other unpopular changes, such as the discontinuation of direct Microsoft Rewards point exchanges. Gamers, who had grown accustomed to the exceptional value proposition of Game Pass, now feel betrayed. The company's justification, highlighting an expanded library of over 400 games and an increased number of day-one releases annually (projected at 75), has done little to assuade their anger. The recent addition of major titles like Hogwarts Legacy and Assassin’s Creed, along with Ubisoft Plus Classics and the inclusion of Fortnite Crew with its Battle Pass and V-Bucks, were presented as added value. However, for many, these perks do not compensate for the substantial financial burden.

“Congratulations, you’ve ruined the best part of owning an Xbox,” one frustrated gamer lamented online, encapsulating the sentiment of many.

Redefined Tiers, Redefined Frustration

Beyond the Ultimate tier, Microsoft is also restructuring its other Game Pass offerings. Game Pass Core, formerly Essential, will now include over 50 games and cloud streaming for $9.99, with no price change. The Standard tier is being rebranded as Premium, priced at $14.99, offering access to over 200 games, including PC titles like Diablo IV and Hogwarts Legacy, and cloud gaming capabilities without the need for Ultimate. Notably, new Xbox releases will arrive on this tier “within a year of their release,” with the exception of Call of Duty titles. PC Game Pass sees a price hike to $16.49 from $12, with the primary added content being approximately 50 Ubisoft games, leaving PC players feeling particularly shortchanged as no new core functionalities have been introduced.

Global Impact and Local Discontent

For Ukrainian players, the changes are already in effect for PC Game Pass, with the monthly cost rising from 230₴ to 290₴. The highly anticipated global additions like Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics have yet to reach the region. This marks a significant increase from a year ago when the subscription cost a mere 190₴. While Microsoft has issued a statement acknowledging player feedback, a rollback in prices appears highly unlikely. This aggressive pricing strategy aligns with a broader trend across the streaming industry, with services like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime also implementing price hikes, often citing inflation as the primary driver.

Beyond Subscriptions: A Wider Price Escalation

The price adjustments aren't confined to Game Pass alone. In a further blow to consumers, the Xbox Series X console is slated to increase by $150, and the forthcoming portable Xbox Ally X will carry a hefty price tag of $999.99. This multifaceted approach to price increases, impacting both hardware and subscription services, suggests a strategic shift by Microsoft to capitalize on its market position amidst a period of robust company profits and a general upward trend in subscription service costs.