A push to get people to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?
Update: Xbox Live Gold pricing will not increase, Microsoft said in a backflip of news posted earlier today.
“We messed up today and you were right to let us know. Connecting and playing with friends is a vital part of gaming and we failed to meet the expectations of players who count on it every day. As a result, we have decided not to change Xbox Live Gold pricing,” Microsoft said in an update.
“We’re turning this moment into an opportunity to bring Xbox Live more in line with how we see the player at the center of their experience. For free-to-play games, you will no longer need an Xbox Live Gold membership to play those games on Xbox. We are working hard to deliver this change as soon as possible in the coming months.
“If you are an Xbox Live Gold member already, you stay at your current price for renewal. New and existing members can continue to enjoy Xbox Live Gold for the same prices they pay today. In the US, $9.99 for 1-month, $24.99 for 3-months, $39.99 for 6-months and $59.99 for retail 12-months.”
Original story: Microsoft has increased the cost of an Xbox Live Gold membership, it today announced.
“Periodically, we assess the value and pricing of our services to reflect changes in regional marketplaces and to continue to invest in the Xbox community; we’ll be making price adjustments for Xbox Live Gold in select markets,” a post on Xbox Wire began. “In many markets, the price of Xbox Live Gold has not changed for years and in some markets, it hasn’t changed for over 10 years.”
The price of a 1-month Xbox Live Gold membership has been increased by $1 USD, while a 3-month membership has increased by $5 USD. That means a 1-month subscription is set at $10.99 USD, 3-months is $29.99 USD, and 6-months is $59.99 USD “or your local market equivalent”. Existing users should also note that “prices won’t adjust until at least 45 days after you receive… messages” pertaining to a price increase.
“If you’re an existing online 12-month or 6-month Xbox Live Gold member, there’s no price change,” Microsoft also advised. “If you choose to renew your membership, it will renew at your current price.”
Moreover, the posts reminds users that you can upgrade your Live Gold membership to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, with existing Live subscription value coverting to up to 36 months of Ultimate access. Ultimate bundles the multiplayer benefits of Xbox Live Gold alongside the Xbox Game Pass for PC and console libraries.
What do you make of the price increases?
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